![]() However, the big flowering heads hold thousands of flowers, so at the peak of fruiting a good handful of seeds can be collected from each plant. Seeing how tiny the seeds are, you wonder that anyone would bother to eat them. In fact, archaeological evidence shows that Red Amaranth was eaten by people in Mexico and Central America at least as far back as 6000 years ago - both leaves and seeds being consumed. Here at the rancho, fruiting heads of Red Amaranth are cut and hung upside-down in the chicken yard, so the hens can walk up and peck seeds out - which they do with great relish. One is shown below - that's the top of my thumbnail across the picture's bottom giving an idea how small the seed is:Įven this late in the season, if you shake a head over your open palm, several seeds fall out, as shown below: Most of the bladders already have split open, releasing their single, tiny, shiny-black seeds, but if you look closely you can find seeds ready to fall from their open bladders. ![]() There you can see that when they're regularly watered and cared for they can look impressive, as shown below:Ī closer look at the colorful head of dense spikes and panicles, and its long-petioled, simple, smooth-margined leaves, is shown below:Īlready the pistils of most flowers have matured into utricle-type fruits, a utricle being a bladdery, one-seeded fruit. In the nearby village of Santa Rita, where I get the bicycle fixed, some folks grow Red Amaranth as ornamental bushes. Still, with their bright red color against the usual lush green backdrop, they're a conspicuous presence, as you can see below: It's late in the season for Red Amaranth, so our plants are fully grown, but most of their leaves have withered away, and most of the flowering is past, so our plants look a little scraggly. Sometimes it's also called Blood Amaranth, Purple Amaranth, Prince's Feather, and Mexican Grain Amaranth. Red Amaranth, AMARANTHUS CRUENTUS, is planted here and there at the rancho. From the OctoNewsletter issued from Rancho Regensis north of Valladolid, Yucatán, MÉXICO
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