Prickly amaranth, Spiny Pigweed
Amaranthus spinosus

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

An annual plant 60 -100 cm high. It can be erect or lie over. The stems can be nearly round or they can be angular. The plant branches from the base upwards. Leaves are fairly smooth or hairless but can be tinged purple. The leaf stalk can be 0.5-10 cm long. The leaf blade is oval or sword shaped and 2-7 cm long by 0.6-3 cm wide. There can be a short tip at the top end and gradually tapering to the base. Flower clusters occur at the sides and these can be single or arranged in compound spikes. The flower clusters at the top can be 3-10 cm long. The top flowers often droop over. Parts of the flowers in the clusters of the leaves form spines. These are very sharp. They can be 0.5-2 cm long. The upper flowers are male and the lower flowers are female. The seed are 1-1.2 mm across and flattened.

There are about 60 Amaranthus species. The dried leaves contain (per 100g) 267 - 276 calories, 20 - 34.4% protein, 2 - 4.5% fat, 45 - 54% carbohydrate, 9.8 - 10.4% fibre, 16.6 - 24% ash, 1795 - 5333 mg calcium, 333 - 460 mg phosphorus, 13.5 - 152.7mg iron, 13 - 37 mg sodium, 337 - 3528 mg potassium, 27.9 - 40.8mg betacarotene equivalent, 0.06mg thiamine, 2.02mg riboflavin, 7.7 - 8.6mg niacin and 503 mg ascorbic acid. Chemical composition (after Hooper): Water = 52.10% (fresh). Fat = 2.21% (dry). Alblumenoids = 19.43% (dry). Carbohydrates = 38.35% (dry). Fibre = 19.82% (dry). Ash = 20.20% (dry). Nitrogen = 3.11% (dry). Phosphoric acid = 1.13% (dry). Silicates = 1.90% (dry). It is high in proVitamin A. It has 2.9 mg per 100 g dry weight and 1.6 mg fresh weight of alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E).

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs world wide from the tropics to the warm temperate zone. It can grow in sun or light shade. In Nepal it grows to 1500 m altitude. In Tanzania it grows from sea level to 1,800 m above sea level and in areas with 800-1,300 mm rainfall. It grows well in moist, damp soil. It grows in wetlands. It can grow in arid places. In Argentina it grows up to 1,000 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium. In Yunnan. It grows in Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Amazon, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo DR, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Northeastern India, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Russia, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Singapore, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves are edible cooked. They are boiled or fried. The seeds are ground into flour and cooked. CAUTION: This plant can accumulate nitrates if grown with high nitrogen inorganic fertilisers and these are poisonous.

In Papua New Guinea an occasionally used wild edible leaf. In Africa it is used during droughts and occasionally sold in markets. Because it is spiny it is less popular but often used for home use.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, vegetable, flowers, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants are often self sown. Plants can be grown from seed. They can be sown direct or transplanted.

Leaves are often picked early in the season before spines develop. Leaves can be dried and stored.

Its other names

Local names

Accho aadar arxa, Alehou, Amugnaeder, Anampatsa, Anampatsy, Anatsilo, Araikeerai, Ataco espinudo, Ayntoto, Bandani, Ban lunde, Batto, Bawngeh tehlian, Bayam duri, Bayambang, Bayem berdooree, Boro-boro, Bredo, Bukut, Busa, Bwache, Bwasi, Caruru-chifre-de-espinho, Chalwairay, Chauli, Chalvery, Chengkruk, Chlwae, Cholai, Chulai, Ci xian, Dasy, Den gai, Ghadah, Djambo, Doodo ow' maggwa, Doodo y'amahwa, Epinard, Erra-mulu-goranta, Felipatika, Gai hen lu, Ganhar, Ghanp chalwae, Ghinyar, Gu, Gulee, Harum, Hatikhutura, Hin-nu-nwe-subauk, Huisquilete, Imbuya batfwa, Isukjaroi, Janum arak, Junum ara, Kale-math, Kalunai, Kandelatte, Kande lundo, Kanta bhaji, Kanta-chulai, Kanta khudra, Kanta khuria, Kantalomatnu, Kanta-maris, Kanta-nati, Kanta notay shak, Kanta-notiya, Kanta-nutia, Katanotey, Kantanu-dant, Kanteli, Kantelichulai, Kantemoth, Kata khutura, Kataili chaulai, Kalga, Katakailpha, Kate-math, Kateli chauli, Kateri math, Katili chaurai, Katili chourai, Katu tampala, Kau chua, Khutra, Khutuka, Kilitis, Kolitis, Konjel, Kraroen, Kuantong, Kudumfisa, Kuduna, Kuil rakha, Kulitis, Kuttuila, Lal sag, Len-hling, Lifweni, Losigiria, Lude, Lunde, Lunde-kaada, Maka kraroen, Mandeleni, Marshi, Matbhaji, Mate, Math bhaji, Mattu-mullen-keera, Mboya, Mbuya, Mchicha pori, Mowa danga, Mullancheera, Mullu dagu, Mullu harive soppu, Mullukkeerai, Mullu kura, Mullu-thorta-kora, Mulluk-kirai, Mulugoranta, Mundla-tota-kura, Nalla-doggali, Needle burr, Nkona mutwe, Obuga-okuta, Pa hong nan, Pakat, Phak hom nam, Prickly calalue, Ptebanla, Puchu panya, Ranjaka, Rau dien gai, Sa bie, Sagourou, Sarmay, Serepelele, Sogbe, Spiny amaranth, Surkh gunahr, Tanguliya, Tete ounon, Tete ve, Thorny amaranth, Tilitis, Tshinyameila, Uray, Vai me hna, Wark, Warko, Wo zu wo niu, Yantoto, Yarin

Synonyms

Amaranthus spinosus var. several;