Amaranthaceae FAMILY

Amaranthus hybridus

Edibility

4/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

No members of this genus are known to be poisonous, but when grown on nitrogen-rich soils they are known to concentrate nitrates in the leaves. This is especially noticeable on land where chemical fertilizers are used. Nitrates are implicated in stomach cancers, blue babies and some other health problems. It is inadvisable, therefore, to eat this plant if it is grown inorganically.

Botanical Description

Amaranthus hybridus is an erect annual plant with a stem that can be much-branched to nearly free of branches; it usually grows 30 - 200cm tall, occasionally to 250cm[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. The plant has a long history of cultivation as a food crop and is still sometimes cultivated on a small scale for its edible leaves and seeds. A prolific producer of seed, the plant has often escaped from cultivation and become naturalised as a weed of disturbed and cultivated ground[ 305 Title Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk Publication Author Website http://www.hear.org/pier/scientificnames/index.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A very good website detailing weed species that have been introduced into the Pacific Islands. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeWidespread in the tropics, originally from the Americas. Naturalized in Europe[ 50 Title Flora Europaea Publication Author ? Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1964 ISBN - Description An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader. ].

HabitatOf uncertain origin, it grows wild in cultivated fields and waste places[ 43 Title Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition Publication Author Fernald. M. L. Publisher American Book Co.; New York Year 1950 ISBN 0442222505 Description A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America. ].