Celosia

Celosia argentea Amaranthaceae

Common Names Celosia, Lagos spinach, quail grass, plumed cockscomb, silver cock's comb (En); closie, closie argente, crte de coq (Fr); borln, cresta de gallo (Sp); (Cn) Plant Distribution Worldwide Botanical Features Annual herb up to 1.5 m tall; stem ridged, hairless, branched; leaves alternate, simple, linear to lanceolate-oblong, 15-20 x 6-9 cm; inflorescence dense, droopily spiked, to 20 cm long; flowers narrowly elliptical-oblong, 6-10 mm long, bisexual, silvery to pink; fruit egg-shaped to globular, 3-4 mm long, few-seeded; seeds shiny black, 1-1.5 mm long.

Seedlings for transplanting

88

Environmental Factors Light requirement: full sun, partial sun; photoperiod: day-neutral; temperature requirement: hot; preferred soil type: sandy loam; optimum soil pH: 6.0-6.5; tolerance: heat, cold, drought, salinity; sensitivity: flooding. Flower

89

Production Methods System: gathering wild, home gardening; planting material: seeds, cuttings; planting method: direct, transplanting of seedlings at 10-15 cm in height on raised bed; irrigation: frequent; priority fertilizer: nitrogen, organic matter; crop management: free standing; planting to 1 st harvest: 30-50 days; harvesting: once-over (uproot), repeated 2-3 times at 1-2 week intervals; yield: 50 t/ha. Production of green-leaf type

Production of purple-leaf type

90

Edible Parts Leaves, tender stems, and young flower spikes are eaten boiled, or cooked in sauce or stew with other ingredients. Other uses: as ornamental plants, windbreaks, soap, etc. Health Values Beta-carotene: extremely high in leaves; vitamin E: medium; folic acid: high; ascorbic acid: medium; calcium: medium; iron: medium; protein: 4.7%. Leaves contain also amaranthine (betacyanin), oxalic acid (ca. 0.2%) and phytic acid (ca. 0.12%). Seeds

In flower at seed production site

91