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Amaranthus caudatus L.

Pendent amaranth, love-lies-bleeding, tassel flower, velvet flower, foxtail amaranth, quilete, tass

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassCaryophyllidaeCacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
OrderCaryophyllalesIncludes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants
FamilyAmaranthaceaeAmaranth family
GenusAmaranthusContraction of Greek ἀμάραντος (amarantos), “unfading,” with ἄνθος (anthos), “flower”
Speciescaudatus

About plant names...

This plant is found in Africa, India and South America, and probably originates in the Andes of South America. In the U.S., Amaranth is grown for food as well as for its showy cultivars. It was a staple grain for the Incas and Aztecs. Bushes are up to five feet tall and 1½-2½′ (45-76 cm) wide. Many species of Amaranth are common weeds, such as pigweed.

Identification: The brilliant tassels of the cultivars reach lengths of two feet. They are richly colored, usually red, purple, or white, sometimes green, silvery green, or yellow; and velvety in texture. Although they are a popular as landscaping plants, they rarely escape into the wild.

Edibility: The tender young leaves are edible, and the seeds are eaten raw or milled into flour. Amaranthus is increasingly popular in the U.S. as a healthy food source.

Online References:

Floridata.com

The Missouri Botanical Garden

Plants.ces.ncsu.edu

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

EFloras

Amaranthus caudatus (pendent amaranth, love-lies-bleeding, tassel flower, velvet flower, foxtail amaranth, quilete, tass)

4/6/2011 · Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, Mary­land · ≈ 3 × 4½″ (7.9 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

Amaranthus caudatus (pendent amaranth, love-lies-bleeding, tassel flower, velvet flower, foxtail amaranth, quilete, tass)

4/6/2011 · Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, Mary­land · ≈ 1 × 1½′ (34 × 52 cm) ID is uncertain

Amaranthus edulis Speg.

 

Amaranthus caudatus description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 14 Sep 2023.

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Amaranthus caudatus (pendent amaranth, love-lies-bleeding, tassel flower, velvet flower, foxtail amaranth, quilete, tass)

9/9/2005 · Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC

Amaranthus caudatus (pendent amaranth, love-lies-bleeding, tassel flower, velvet flower, foxtail amaranth, quilete, tass)

4/6/2011 · Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, Mary­land · ≈ 10 × 15″ (26 × 39 cm) ID is uncertain

Amaranthus caudatus (pendent amaranth, love-lies-bleeding, tassel flower, velvet flower, foxtail amaranth, quilete, tass)

9/9/2005 · Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC

Range:

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