Green amaranth, Slender amaranth
Amaranthus viridis

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

A herb 10-75 cm high. The stems are branched and angular and without hairs. The leaves are alternate and not quite rectangular in shape. The leaves are 3-9 cm long by 2-6.5 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 2.5-6.5 cm long. The flowers occur in a clustered flower head. These occur in the axils of leaves. The flower heads form a spike at the end of the branches. This spike is 2.5-12 cm long. The flowers are green with male and female flowers together. The fruit is a small almost round capsule. It is 1.2-1.5 mm across. The seed are shiny black and 1 mm across.

There are about 60 Amaranthus species. As dry leaf with no moisture basis, 100g of leaves contains 283 calories, 34.2g protein, 5.3g fat, 44.1g carbohydrate, 6.6g fibre, 16.4g ash, 2243 mg calcium, 500 mg phosphorus, 27 mg iron, 336 mg sodium, 2910 mg potassium, 50 mg vitamin A, 0.07mg thiamine, 2.43 mg riboflavin, 11.8 mg niacin and 790 mg ascorbic acid. The seed contains 14 - 16% protein and 4.7 - 7% fat Chemical composition (after Hooper): Fat = 3.76% (dry). Albumenoids = 26.36% (dry). Carbohydrates = 38.12% (dry. Fibre = 10.04% (dry). Ash = 22.72% (dry). Nitrogen = 4.06% (dry). Phosphoric acid = 1.09% (dry). Silicates = 2.84% (dry). It is high in proVitamin A.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It also grows in temperate places. It is common in open waste places. In Nepal it grows to about 1400 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. In Java it grows up to 500 m above sea level. It grows best with temperatures between 23-30°C. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Algeria, American Samoa, Andamans, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, Chile, China, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kiribati, Korea, Laos, Lesser Antilles, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marquesas, Mediterranean, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North Africa, Northeastern India, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Rotuma, Sahel, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Turkey, Türkiye, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves and seeds are cooked and eaten. The harvested leaves can only be stored for 2-3 days. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Leaves are only occasionally eaten. Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, vegetable, flowers

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed or cuttings. Seeds grow easily.

Its other names

Local names

Aadar arxa, Alayyaho, Amadjin, Anamalitalita, Araikkirai, Au tasi, Ban note, Banglache, Bawngeh tehneu, Bayam Itek, Bayam pasir, Bayam Puteh, Bayem hedjo, Bhaji sag, Bledo, Bledo blanco, Bledo chino, Bledo verde, Caruru-verde, Chailaka thotakura, haleree, Chandlai, Chauli, Chaurai, Chauraiya, Chengkruk, Chichimeca, Chiira, Chilikirae soppy, Chiluka thotakura, Chiori pequeno, Chirryaku, Chlwae, Cholai, Choroiya, Chourai, Chowroi bhajee, Chulai, Chuwa, Citaco, Dagli-soppu, Dalekhao-khao, Delisurken, Den com, Den xanh, Detta ao, Dhinmado, Dido, Driti, Epinard savage, Erf al-deek, Fara, Fole, Gai hen dong, Ganar, Gandari, Ganhar, Ganyar, Genyak, Gblegbe, Gha gha, Ghinar, Gunhar, Hin-nu-nwe, Hling nei lo, Inhmuntiek, Jangli chaurai, Jangli chulai, Jungali chaulayi, Latte dana, Lattesag, Kaa ruru, Kata khuria, Khahram, Khai khuria, Khanthau khora, Khedabhaji, Khuduna, Khungtou, Khutura sak, Kijere, Knoteshak, Kudum, Kuduna, Kulitis, Kuppacheera, Kuppai keerai, Kura-tampala, Kuthura sak, Lhanamat, Lude sag, Lunde, Lutur, Marsha, Mata, Math, Mathbhaji, Matnu, Morlai, Mo tuo qi pu, Nboga, Ndriti, Ndunda, Ngasau ni vuaka, Niao Xian, Notay shak, Note sak, Pa hong ge, Pak khom, Passa, Pattikerae, Phak hom, Phak khom hat, Range sag, Ranzaka, Saag, Sakaak, Sarontaka, Shaknotey, Silmastik, Sinna keerai, Siru keerai pullu, Slanke majer, Slender amaranth, Sogbe, Soko green, Soungui, Tai, Tamba, Tandla, Tandula, Tanduli, Tanduliya, Tchappata, Te mota, Tete dudu were, Tete moto, Tobophavu, Tubua, Tumbua, Vaihme, Valakkeerai, Vishaghna, Vowakhololo

Synonyms

Amaranthus acutilobus Uline & W. L. Bray; Amaranthus fasciatus Roxb.; Amaranthus gracilis Desf.; Amaranthus polystachyus Buch-Ham. ex Wall.; Chenopodium caudatum Jacq.; Euxolus caudatus (Jacq.) Moq.; Euxolus viridis (L.) Moq.; and others