Amaranthus blitum subsp. oleraceus
(L.) Costea
Slender Amaranth
gbif· cc-by-nc
Joseph Knight
gbif· cc-by-nc
Joseph Knight
gbif· cc-by-nc
Chris Buddenhagen
Summary
Source: WikipediaAmaranthus blitum, commonly called purple amaranth or Guernsey pigweed, is an annual plant species in the economically important plant family Amaranthaceae. It has a number of culinary uses.
Description
A herb which can be erect or hang over. It is 80 cm tall. The stems are angular and curve in a zigzag manner. They often branch from the base upwards. The leaves are oval and 1-3 cm long by 0.3-1.5 cm wide. The leaves are wedge shaped at the base and have a sharp point at the tip. The leaf stalk is 0.3-2.5 cm long. The side veins can be clearly seen under the leaf. The leaves are without hairs but are sometimes tinged with purple. The flower spikes can be 1-10 cm long and have side clusters. The fruit are smooth and pale. Seeds are 1-1.2 mm across.
Edible Uses
Although not cultivated, this plant is gathered from the wild and eaten in many parts of the world. The Greeks refer to A. blitum var. silvestre as vlita (Modern Greek: βλίτα) and eat the leaves and the cooked tender shoots, served with olive oil, lemon and salt. In Lebanon (especially to the north) a side dish is made from the young shoots; they are cooked in olive oil, onion, chilli, and burghul, seasoned with salt and lemon, and eaten with pita.
Traditional Uses
Leaves are eaten as a green vegetable, after cooking.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
A tropical plant. It occurs world wide in the tropics. In Papua New Guinea it grows best between 1,200 and 2,000 m altitude. In Nepal it grows between 1500-2300 m altitude.
Where It Grows
Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burundi, Central Africa, China, East Africa, Ecuador, Europe, Gabon, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Malawi, Mediterranean, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, North Africa, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Philippines, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, South America, St Helena, Tanzania, Thailand, Uruguay, Vietnam, West Africa,
Cultivation
Mostly plants are self sown. Plants can be grown from seed.
Other Information
It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is sold in local markets. In Papua New Guinea an occasionally used wild edible leaf.
Notes
There are about 60 Amaranthus species.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Ataco, Ban lunde, Bledo, Bwora, Carurd, Data shak, Den tai, Elope, Gerupu, Ilupu, Khuria, Kude sag, Kudum, Lattesag, Mboog'ennene, Tampala, Wild blite
References (50)
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