Cockscomb
Celosia isertii

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

A straggling herb. It can be woody at the base. It grows 3 m tall. The stems and branches are hairy. The leaves are narrowly oval and hairy underneath especially along the veins. Leaves can be 3.5-10 cm long by 2.5-5 cm wide. The flower heads are white and in the axils of the leaves and at the top of the plant. The fruit is a capsule 2-4 mm long. The seeds are black and shiny. They are 1 mm long.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in secondary forests and near streams and in damp sites. In Zambia it grows between 1,500-1,800 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten. They are also used in sauces and for flavouring.

It is enjoyed as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Jarfundu, Nanafo

Synonyms

Celosia laxa aucct., non Schum. & Thonn. Celosia laxa var. pilosa Schinz;