Amaranthus hypochondriacus
| Amaranthus hypochondriacus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Genus: | Amaranthus |
| Species: | A. hypochondriacus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Amaranthus hypochondriacus | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
List
| |
Amaranthus hypochondriacus is an ornamental plant commonly known as Prince-of-Wales feather[3] or prince's-feather.[4][5] It is called quelite, bledo[6] and quintonil in Spanish.[7][8]
Description
A. hypochondriacus is a vigorous, upright plant that typically reaches 40–200 cm (15–80 in) tall.[9] It is often grown for its flowers, which appear in dense, catkin-like inflorescences in the summer and autumn. They are usually deep purplish-red, but may be yellow-green.[10] These give way to dry fruits, about 1.5–3 mm (1⁄16–1⁄8 in) long, that split open when ripe.[11] The fruits contain smooth, shiny seeds that may be subglobose to lenticular, either whitish-pink or dark reddish-brown to black, and 1–1.4 mm (3⁄64–1⁄16 inch) in diameter.[12] The leaves are simple and alternately arranged, with entire margins.[11] They are rhombic-ovate to broadly lanceolate in shape, about 4–12 cm (1+1⁄2–4+1⁄2 inches) long and 2–7 cm (1–3 inches) wide, borne on long peduncles.[12]
Taxonomy
Originally endemic to Mexico, there is near certainty that A. hypochondriacus is the common ancestor to the genus Amaranthus, but the later domestication of groups remains unclear. There has been opposing hypotheses of a single as opposed to multiple domestication events of the three grain species.[13][14] There is evidence of phylogenetic and geographical support for clear groupings that indicate separate domestication events in South America and Central America.[13] A. hybridus may derive from South America, whereas A. caudatus, A. hypochondriacus, and A. quentiensis are native to Central America and elsewhere in North America.[13][14]
Uses
In temperate regions, it is cultivated as a half-hardy annual plant. Numerous cultivars have been selected, of which 'Green Thumb'[15] and 'Pygmy Torch'[16] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. It grows best in well-drained soils in full sun, and is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 3–10. It may be susceptible to aphids.[10]
In Africa and El Salvador, like many other species in the family Amaranthaceae, it is valued as source of food.[17] The leaves and seeds are very nutritious and have a mild flavor.[9] The seeds also contain phenolic compounds.[18]
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Flower of A. hypochondriacus
References
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer". Retrieved 2021-05-06.
- ^ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species".
- ^ NRCS. "Amaranthus hypochondriacus". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- ^ Phillips, Edward (1720). The New World of Words. 7th ed.
- ^ "Cultivos andinos: Introducción". FAO: Oficina Regional de para América Latina y el Caribe. Archived from the original on 2011-01-10. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ "Semillas de Amaranto". UNAM: Colección Etnobotánica. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ "El amaranto". University of Guadalajara: Centro Universitario de Biológicas y Afropecuarias. Archived from the original on 2011-01-02. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ a b "Amaranthus hypochondriacus - Useful Tropical Plants". tropical.theferns.info. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
- ^ a b "Amaranthus hypochondriacus (Cocks Comb, Lady Bleeding, Love Lies Bleeding, Pile Wort, Prince-of-Wales Feather, Prince's Feather, Prince's-feather, Red Cocks Comb) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
- ^ a b "Amaranthus hypochondriacus (prince's-feather amaranth): Go Botany". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
- ^ a b "Amaranthus hypochondriacus in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
- ^ a b c Stetter, Markus G.; Schmid, Karl J (April 2017). "Analysis of phylogenetic relationships and genome size evolution of the Amaranthus genus using GBS indicates the ancestors of an ancient crop". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 109: 80–92. Bibcode:2017MolPE.109...80S. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2016.12.029. PMID 28057554.
- ^ a b Joshi, Dinesh C.; Sood, Salej; Hosahatti, Rajashekara; Kant, Lakshmi; Pattanayak, A.; Kumar, Anil; Yadav, Dinesh; Stetter, Markus G. (2018-07-10). "From zero to hero: the past, present and future of grain amaranth breeding". Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 131 (9): 1807–1823. doi:10.1007/s00122-018-3138-y. ISSN 0040-5752. PMID 29992369. S2CID 49669284.
- ^ "Amaranthus hypochondriacus 'Green Thumb'". RHS. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
- ^ "Amaranthus hypochondriacus 'Pygmy Torch'". RHS. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
- ^ Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (2004) Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wageningen.
- ^ Barba de la Rosa, A.P.; Fomsgaard, Inge S.; Laursen, Bente; Mortensen, Anne G.; Olvera-Martínez, L.; Silva-Sánchez, C.; Mendoza-Herrera, A.; González-Castañeda, J.; De León-Rodríguez, A. (2009-01-01). "Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) as an alternative crop for sustainable food production: Phenolic acids and flavonoids with potential impact on its nutraceutical quality". Journal of Cereal Science. 49 (1): 117–121. doi:10.1016/j.jcs.2008.07.012. ISSN 0733-5210.
- Pink, Alfred (2004). Gardening for the Million. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.