Edible: Leaves, Seeds - oil, Vegetable, Flowers, Tea
An erect short lived annual herb up to 1 m tall. The leaves are alternate and light green. They are 2 cm wide and 6 cm long. They are dark green and longer on flowering shoots. The flower spike grows on the end of the main stem and is red or purple. It is 20 cm long. The seeds are small (1 mm across). Two kinds occur as red and green forms.
It is a tropical plant. It grows well in the lowlands humid forest zone. It suits damp humid places and is often on clayey soil. The plant is widespread as a wild plant at low altitudes. It grows up to 1700 m in Ethiopia. Temperatures between 25-30°C at night and 30-35°C in the day are best. It needs good sunlight and does best in soils with high organic matter. It can grow in light shade and in dry conditions. In Nepal it grows up to 1600 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.
Common Names: Lagos spinach, Quail grass, Cock’s comb, Adefo, Aem, Alefo, Anandasoa, Anne soppu, Avunvo, Ayinkpinnan, Bayam ekor belanda, Bayam ekur kuching, Bayam merah, Borocho, Bostan afras, Chare maguri, Chinese Cock’s Comb, Dedogime, Dhura dru, Ekaliyo, Foxtail amaranth, Garka, Gurugu, Guruvu kura, Horbaita, Huldi murga, Jengger ayam, Ji guan hua, Kanju, Kima arxa, Kodijuttutotakura, Kokan, Koontha, Kukudda, Kunjru, Kurada, Kurdu, Kyet-mauk, Kyet -monk, Lagos spinach, Lahenga, Lal murga, Lal murghka, Lambadi, Lapadi, Lasor, Leheti sak, Lemdi, Lunadalandala, Maendeurami, Makhumaa, Mamiratsy, Mawal, Mayura-shikha, Mesor, Mora shikha, Morogful shak, Morogihutishak, Ninga, Niu mu wo, Nyaayu, Panchechettu, Pannae, Pannai, Pila murghka, Pile murghka, Safed murga-ka-phul, Saigatya, Salara, Sankokolo, Sarpankha, Sarwari, Sawari, Shelar, Sifaid murgha, Silairi, Silgizara, Siliari sag, Siliyari, Silver and red foxtail, Silwari, Sirgit ara, Sirmali, Soko pupa, Sokoyokoto, Soman, Somon, Srebrna celozija, Suggi sak, Surli, Surwari, Suwari, Swet morog, Swetmurga, Taji khoros, Tambadi, Tchokoyokoto, Tetekpkpo, Tinonyawouti, Tipekenonte, Torcha, Torchata, Vitunna, Zo-ci
Synonyms:
Amaranthus cristata Noronha;
Amaranthus huttonii H. J. Veitch;
Amaranthus purpureus Nieuwl.;
Amaranthus pyramidalis Noronha;
Celosia argentea L. var. cristata (L.) O. Kuntze;
Celosia argentea f. cristata (L.) Schinz;
Celosia aurea T. Moore;
Celosia castrensis L.;
Celosia coccinea L.;
Celosia comosa Retz.;
Celosia cristata L.;
Celosia debilis S. Moore;
Celosia huttonii Mast.;
Celosia japonica Mart.;
Celosia margaritacea L.;
Celosia marylandica Retz.;
Celosia pallida Salisb.;
Celosia plumosa (Voss) Burv.;
Celosia purpurea J. St.-Hil.;
Celosia pyramidalis Burm.f.;
Celosia splendens Schumach. & Thonn.;
Celosia swinhoei Hemsley;
Chamissoa margaritacea (L.) Schouw;
Lophoxera comosa Raf.;
Lophoxera racemosa Raf.;