Amaranthus blitum, commonly called purple amaranth or Guernsey pigweed, is an annual plant species in the economically important plant family Amaranthaceae. It is an erect or semi-prostrate annual plant. The single or branched stem can grow to one metre tall. The green or purplish leaves are up to 10 cm long on stalks of a similar length and are arranged spirally. They are simple, roughly triangular in shape and have entire margins. The inflorescence is a spike with the tiny male and female flowers clustered together. The fruits are small globular capsules containing disc-shaped seeds.
Although not cultivated, this plant is gathered from the wild and eaten in many parts of the world. The Greeks refer to A. blitum var. silvestre as vlita (Modern Greek: βλίτα) and eat the leaves and the cooked tender shoots, served with olive oil, lemon and salt. In Lebanon (especially to the north) a side dish is made from the young shoots; they are cooked in olive oil, onion, chilli, and burghul, seasoned with salt and lemon, and eaten with pita.
The plant is is high in nutrients and antioxidants. It contains protein, fibre, minerals, and vitamins. The leaves contain about 3.88% protein, 1.1% fat, 9.38% carbohydrate, 3.2% ash, 323mg Ca, 8.3mg Fe, they are very rich in Vitamins A & C, rich in vitamin B1.
Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!
what a striking flower you share! Mine in Strelitzia Nicolae, (sp) white bird of paradise, a banana cousin
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