Chinese amaranth, Red amaranth
Amaranthus tricolor

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

A herb about 1 m high and spreads 45 cm wide. A small annual leafy green. An upright, much branched annual with a thin membrane covering the stems. Sometimes the plant lies over. The stems are angular. The plant branches in the upper part of the plant. It is smooth and grows from seed each year. Leaves have long leaf stalks which can be 5-10 cm long. Leaves vary in shape, size and colour. The leaf blade can be 5-25 cm long by 2-6 cm wide. Leaves are dull purplish and the top leaves can be yellow or red. Some types have coloured leaves or patterns on the leaves. It has a clumpy seed head at the top. The flower spike at the top can be 30 cm long. The seed are 1-1.2 mm across and black.

There are about 60 Amaranthus species. Chemical composition (Chinese sample): Protein = 3.5%. Fat = 0.24%. Carbohydrate = 6.6%. Reported rich in Vitamin A, with moderate amounts of Vitamins B1 and C. Chemical composition (after Hooper) (Green variety, April [Indian sample]): Water = 90.6% (fresh). Fat = 4.30% (dry). Albumenoids = 27.61% (dry). Fibre = 7.85% (dry). Ash = 23.98% (dry). Carbohydrates = 36.26% (dry). Nitrogen = 4.42% (dry). Phosphoric acid = 1.47% (dry). Silicates = 2.58% (dry). (Green variety, November): Water = 82.60% (fresh). Fat = 4.50% (dry). Albumenoids = 25.72% (dry). Carbohydrates = 36.84% (dry). Fibre = 11.89% (dry). Ash = 21.05% (dry). Nitrogen = 4.12% (dry). Phosphoric acid = 1.35% (dry). Silicates = 2.20%. (Red variety, April): Water (fresh) = 91.0%. Fat = 5.34% (dry). Albumenoids = 25.46% (dry). Carbohydrates = 34.71% (dry). Fibre = 6.96% (dry). Ash = 27. (dry). Nitrogen = 4.07% (dry). Phosphoric acid = 1.56% (dry). Silicates =1.97% (dry). (Red variety, November): Water = 84.5% (fresh). Fat = 3.77% (dry). Albumenoids = 24.75% (dry). Carbohydrates = 37.90% (dry). Fibre = 11.55% (dry). Ash = 22.03% (dry). Nitrogen = 3.96% (dry). Phosphoric acid = 1.53% (dry). Silicates = 1.57% (dry). It has 2.3 mg per 100 g dry weight and 1.2 mg fresh weight of alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E).

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in many tropical and warm temperate places. Plants grow wild in waste places. Amaranths grow from sea level to 2400 m altitude in the equatorial tropics. It prefers well drained soils. It needs a sunny position to yield well. For amaranth seeds to germinate they need a temperature above 15°-17°C. In the higher areas of the equatorial highlands above 1800 m., temperatures on the average are probably below this during the cooler months. It may be more difficult to get amaranths started during these months. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 8-11. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, Canada, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo DR, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Europe, Fiji, Guiana, Guianas, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nigeria, Niue, North Africa, Northeastern India, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Türkiye, Tuvalu, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Yemen

How it is used for food

The young leaves and stems are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Some species of amaranths occur in most parts of Papua New Guinea and they are one of the commonest cultivated greens. It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, vegetable, flowers, leaves - tea

How it is grown

The very small seeds of these plants are scattered over the ashes or fine soil in fertile ground. The seed are normally spread by rubbing the dry seed heads between the hands. Some types are self sown. These plants grow in most tropical countries. The soil must be fertile. If they are put in an old garden they will only grow very poorly. So they are either put in a new garden site when it is cleared from bush, or in build up the old ground by adding compost. The small gardens close to a house can often be built up to a good fertility by using the scraps and ashes and things that are left over near houses. Amaranths need high amounts of two nutrients, nitrogen and potash. The ashes from fires are high in potash so farmers scatter seeds of amaranth over areas where they have burnt. Amaranths are tropical plants grown in most tropical countries. Normally the hotter it is the better they grow. They also like plenty of sunlight and do not suit shaded places. The more sunlight the better they grow. They need to have water most of the time they are growing. In areas with a high rainfall this is mostly not a big problem.

Plants can be harvested when small due to thinning out closely spaced plants. These can be either transplanted or eaten cooked. Plants can be harvested whole or have top leaves harvested several times. Harvesting begins after 4-7 weeks and can continue over 2 months.

Its other names

Local names

Anana, Anantarika, Anga-sag, Arai keerai, Ariki sira, Badi chaulai, Ban chaulai, Barichulai, Bathua, Bayam kadong, Bayam, Bayam, Bilikeere soppu, Bireum, Chantili, Chaulai sag, Chauraiya, Chengkruu, Chorie danga shak, Danta shak, Dantu, Datha, Den canh, Dengo, Dengua-sag, Dengua, Den tia, Driti-damudamu, Een choy, Espinaca, Gai heng, Gotala matala, Gurane, Han ts'oi, Harawi, Hijau, Hinn-choy, Hin-nu-nwe, Hiyuna, Jenso ara, Joseph’s coat, Kayyatota kura, Kpedekpede, Kupei keeray, Kutilis, Lal mat, Lal note, Lal shak, Lal-sag, Lalsak, Lalru, Latte, Marsa, Marshi, Mathla, Moea, Mo tuo qi pu, Notay sag, Notiya sag, Pa hong, Pak hom, Pak khom, Pirum, Ran math, Ranga sak, Rau den tia do, Ronga moricha, Sad amaranth, Salad amaranth, Sanse Xian, Taduljira, Tampala, Telele, Terere, Thandankeerai, Tota kura, Totoe, Tribarvni ščir, W'oa, Yubua, Urai-pula, Xian Cai, Zepina

Synonyms

Amaranthus amboinicus Buch.-Ham ex Wall.; Amaranthus bicolor Nocca ex Willd.; Amaranthus cuspidatus Vis.; Amaranthus flexuosus Moq.; Amaranthus gangeticus L.; Amaranthus gangeticus var. angustior Bailey; Amaranthus inamoenus Willd.; Amaranthus incomptus Willd.; Amaranthus japonicus Houtt. ex Willd.; Amaranthus lanceolatus Roxb.; Amaranthus lancifolius Roxb.; Amaranthus mangostanus Linnaeus; Amaranthus melancholius L.; Amaranthus oleraceus Roxb.; Amaranthus polygamus L.; Amaranthus rotundifolius Moq.; Amaranthus salicifolius H. J. Veitch; Amaranthus tricolor var. gangeticus (L.) Fiori; Amaranthus tricolor var. mangostanus (L.) Aellen; Amaranthus tricolor var. melancholicus (L) Lam.; Amaranthus tricolor var. tristis (Willd.) Mehrotra, Aswal & Bisht; Amaranthus tricolor var. tristis (L.) Thell.; Amaranthus tristis L.; Amaranthus tristis var. leptostachys Moq.; Blitum gangeticum Moench; Blitum melancholicum Moench; Glomeraria bicolor Cav. ex Moq.; Glomeraria tricolor (L.) Cav.;