Dear Dinesh Ji and Garg Ji, *Amaranthus cruentus* is a common flowering plant<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowering_plant>species that yields the nutritious staple amaranth grain <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranth_grain>. It is one of three * Amaranthus <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranthus>* species cultivated as a grain source, the other two being *A. hypochondriacus<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranthus_hypochondriacus> * and *A. caudatus <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranthus_caudatus>*. In Mexico it is called *Huautli* and *Alegria* and in English it has several common names, including *purple amaranth*, *red amaranth*, and *Mexican grain amaranth*.
*Amaranthus cruentus* is a tall annual herb topped with clusters of dark pink flowers. The plant can grow up to 2 m (6 ft) in height, and blooms in summer to fall. It has now naturalized in most states. It is believed to have originated from *Amaranthus hybridus<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranthus_hybridus> *, with which it shares many morphological features. This species was in use as a food source in Central America<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_America>as early as 4000 BC <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_millennium_BC>. The plant is usually green in color, but a purple variant was once grown for use in Inca rituals. In Maharashtra <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtra>, it is called as "Shravani Maath" (literally माठ grown in month of *Shravan*). Regards Tanay 2010/3/3 J.M. Garg <[email protected]> > Forwarding again for Id confirmation or otherwise pl. > Earlier relevant feedback: > “The plant *appears to be Rajgira*, and it is one of the leafy vegatables > of western maharashtra. The leaves atre used before flowering. > Narendra Joshi” > > “Ameranthus is common leafy plant is known as chaulai in North India, and > delicios laddus are made out of its grain which are eaten during fast also. > And the leaves are cooked and eaten as vegetable. > Promila” > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Dinesh Valke <[email protected]> > Date: 2009/12/9 > Subject: [indiantreepix:24794] Amaranthus ¿ paniculatus / cruentus / > graecizans ? > To: Indian Tree Pix <[email protected]> > > > Dear friends, > > Not familiar with amaranths. > Found this herbaceous plant growing near waste water in a village in > Rajguru Nagar, Pune - 12 DEC 09 > Villager said the plant is RAJGIRA, the grain amaranth that is used in > preparation of laddus, also an ingredient of food eaten during fasting. > > Not sure which amaranth: paniculatus / cruentus / graecizans ? OR could be > any else. > ID please. > > Regards. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "indiantreepix" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<indiantreepix%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix?hl=en. > > > > -- > With regards, > J.M.Garg ([email protected]) > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 > 'Creating awareness of Indian Flora & Fauna' > Image Resource of more than a thousand species of Birds, Butterflies, > Plants etc. (arranged alphabetically & place-wise): > http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:J.M.Garg > For learning about Indian Flora, visit/ join Google e-group- Efloraofindia: > http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "efloraofindia" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<indiantreepix%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix?hl=en. > -- Tanay Bose +91(033) 25550676 (Resi) 9830439691(Mobile) 9674221362 (Mobile) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix?hl=en.
