Amaranthus viridis

Amaranthus viridis is a cosmopolitan species in the botanical family Amaranthaceae and is commonly known as slender amaranth or green amaranth.

Amaranthus viridis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Amaranthus
Species:
A. viridis
Binomial name
Amaranthus viridis

Description

Amaranthus viridis is an annual herb with an upright, light green stem that grows to about 60–80 cm in height. Numerous branches emerge from the base, and the leaves are ovate, 3–6 cm long, 2–4 cm wide, with long petioles of about 5 cm. The plant has terminal panicles with few branches, and small green flowers with 3 stamens.[1]

Uses

Amaranthus viridis is eaten as a boiled green or as a vegetable in many parts of the world.

In the Northeastern Indian state of Manipur, it is known as cheng-kruk; it is also eaten as a vegetable in South India, especially in Kerala, where it is known as kuppacheera കുപ്പച്ചീര. It is a common vegetable in Bengali cuisine, where it is called note shak ("shak" means leafy vegetable). It a very common vegetable used in Odia Cuisine as Saaga, namely as Kosila Saaga or Marshi Saag in rural areas.

It is also eaten as a vegetable in parts of Africa.[2] The leaves of this plant, known as massaagu in Dhivehi, have been used in the diet of the Maldives for centuries in dishes such as mas huni.[3] The Yoruba in West Africa name for this plant is Ewe Tete and is used for medicinal and spiritual purposes.

In the 19th Century A. viridus, or green amaranth was an item of food in Australia. The botanist Joseph Maiden wrote in 1889: "It is an excellent substitute for spinach, being far superior to much of the leaves of the white beet sold for spinach in Sydney. Next to spinach it seems to be most like boiled nettle leaves, which when young are used in England, and are excellent. This amarantus should be cooked like spinach, and as it becomes more widely known, it is sure to be popular, except amongst persons who may consider it beneath their dignity to have anything to do with so common a weed."[4][5]

Green amaranth also has clusters of nutty edible seeds, which can be eaten as snacks or used in biscuits. A porridge can be made by boiling the seeds in water. Unlike other amaranths, the seeds can be easily harvested by scraping the ripe spikes of seeds between the fingers.[4]

Amaranthus viridis is used as a medicinal herb in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, under the Sanskrit name Tanduliya.[6]

Nutrition

Green Amaranth can contain up to 38% protein by dry weight.[7] The leaves and seeds contain lysine, an essential amino acid.[7]

The closely related Amaranthus blitum is also eaten. In Jamaica, it is known as callaloo. In Greece, it is known as vlita.

References
  1. Tanaka, Yoshitaka; Van Ke, Nguyen (2007). Edible Wild Plants of Vietnam: The Bountiful Garden. Thailand: Orchid Press. p. 24. ISBN 978-9745240896.
  2. Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (2004) Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wageningen.
  3. Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999, ISBN 84-7254-801-5
  4. Low, Tim (1985). Wild Herbs of Australia & New Zealand. Angus & Robertson Publishers. p. 44. ISBN 0207151679.
  5. J. H. Maiden (1889). The useful native plants of Australia : Including Tasmania. Turner and Henderson, Sydney.
  6. R.V. Nair, Controversial drug plants
  7. Grubb, Adam; Raser-Rowland, Annie (2012). The Weed Forager's Handbook. Australia: Hyland House Publishing Pty Ltd. p. 23. ISBN 9781864471212.
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