Amaranth

Garden amaranth ( Amaranthus caudatus)

Amaranth ( Amaranthus ), also called pigweed, also sometimes spelled Amaranth is a plant genus of the family Amaranthaceae ( Amaranthaceae ).

Be used mainly fine-grained, resembling millet seeds of garden - fox tail ( Amaranthus caudatus), known in the Andean region to this day under the name Kiwicha.

Description

In Amaranthus species there are usually annual, rarely perennial herbaceous plants. The stems are often branched. The alternate arranged leaves are stalked.

The inflorescences are usually very many flowered. The flowers are always unisexual. The plants are either ( at the sub-genera Amaranthus and Albersia ) monoecious getrenntgeschlechtig or (in subgenus Acnida ) dioecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( dioecious ). In the female flowers bloom may be missing or there are one to five and a stamp available. In the male flowers bloom three to five, and three to five stamens are present.

Occurrence

The genus Amaranthus comprises about 60 to 70 species found on all continents except Antarctica. Amaranthus species are common in the warmer areas of the world, mostly in dry steppe areas, wasteland and cultivated land. The greatest species diversity is found in America, in North America alone, there are about 38 species.

In Europe, species composition:

Local (Southern Europe) should only graecizans Amaranthus L. and Amaranthus blitum subsp. oleraceus (L.) Costea be.

Some Amaranthus species are cultural companion plants. Almost all species occurring in Europe have been introduced in the last two centuries, especially from America. All kinds of love warm and nutrient-rich soils. Since they require higher temperatures to germinate, they are found mainly in late planted crops, such as vegetables, maize, in vineyards, etc. With the expansion of maize production to Central and Northern Europe spread the amaranth species as arable weeds out.

The occurring in Central Europe species are now: White amaranth White pigweed ( Amaranthus albus L.), West American amaranth, Lower Lying amaranth, West American pigweed ( Amaranthus blitoides S.Watson ), bouchon amaranth ( Amaranthus bouchonii Thell. ), Krauser amaranth ( Amaranthus crispus ( Lesp. & Gospel of Thomas. ) N.Terracc. ), down Curved amaranth ( Amaranthus deflexus L.), Greek amaranth ( Amaranthus graecizans L.), Spreading Amaranth ( Amaranthus hybridus L.), Grünähriger amaranth ( Amaranthus powellii S. Watson ), Curved Back amaranth ( Amaranthus retroflexus L.), Standleys amaranth ( Amaranthus standleyanus Covas ).

System

The genus Amaranthus was erected in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, 2, pp. 989-991. A homonym is Amaranthus Adans, published in Michel Adanson. Familles des Plantes, 2, 1763, p 269 The lectotype species is Amaranthus caudatus L., it was discovered in 1930 by Hitchcock & Green in Prop. Brit. Botanists, pp. 110-199 set. Synonyms for Amaranthus L. are: Acanthochiton Torr, Acnida L., Albersia Kunth, Amblogyna Raf, Raf Euxolus, Goerziella Urb, Mengea showers, Montelia A. Gray, Moquin - Tandon Sarratia, Scleropus Schrader.. .. .

The genus Amaranthus is divided into three subgenera:

• Subgenus Acnida (L.) Aellen ex K. R. Robertson
• Subgenus Albersia ( Kunth ) Grenier & Godron
• Subgenus Amaranthus

Types (selection alphabetically )

There are about 60 to 70 Amaranthus species:

• Amaranthus acanthobracteatus Henr.
• Amaranthus acanthochiton Sauer
• Amaranthus × adult rinus Thell.
• Amaranthus albus L.
• Amaranthus anderssonii J.T.Howell
• Amaranthus arenicola I.M.Johnst.
• Amaranthus asplundii Thell.
• Amaranthus atropurpureus Roxb.
• Amaranthus aureus F.Dietr.
• Amaranthus australis ( A. Gray ) Sauer
• Amaranthus bahiensis Mart.
• Amaranthus bigelowii Uline & W.L.Bray
• West American amaranth, amaranth Low Lying, West American pigweed ( Amaranthus blitoides S.Watson )
• Amaranthus L. blitum: With several subspecies and varieties: Ascending amaranth or Ascending foxtail, common ground amaranth ( Amaranthus blitum subsp. Blitum )
• Amaranthus blitum subsp. emarginatus ( Moq. ex Uline & Bray ) Carretero et al.
• Greenish amaranth, Greenish pigweed ( Amaranthus blitum subsp. Oleraceus (L.) Costea )
• Amaranthus blitum var pseudogracilis ( Thell. ) Costea

History

Amaranth is one of the oldest crops of mankind. It has been cultivated by the Coxcatlán culture in Tehuacán (Mexico) and in nearly 9,000 year old graves seeds were detected. Among the Aztecs, Inca and Maya the cereal grains like amaranth were next to quinoa and corn a staple food.

Because of the religious meaning of the Amaranth, including in the context of a communion -like ceremony in connection with a festival in honor of the Aztec god Huitzilopochtli (where all human blood was applied ), the amaranth cultivation in the 16th century by the Spaniards, under penalty of death penalty prohibited. Not least, this measure was subsequently instrumental in further deterioration of the supply situation of the local population in and is therefore partly responsible for the starvation of millions of indigenous people. Following the lifting of the ban on use of the plant for centuries remained almost completely forgotten.

Farmed species

Some amaranth species are crops.

In the ancient world: Ascending amaranth or Ascending pigweed ( Amaranthus L. blitum ), vegetable amaranth ( Amaranthus tricolor L.), green amaranth ( Amaranthus viridis L.).

In the new world: Kiwicha or garden pigweed ( Amaranthus caudatus L.), Rispiger foxtail, foxtail panicles ( Amaranthus cruentus L.), Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell. (no German name known), Mourning pigweed ( Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.), Thorny pigweed ( Amaranthus spinosus L.).

Use

The seeds of the garden and panicles fox tail are used similarly like grain. Biologically, however, amaranth is a pseudo grain: It looks like cereals, and its seeds are also so used, but it is not among the grasses. Amaranth is gluten free. This makes it a full-fledged replacement for compatible grain and gluten intolerance (celiac disease). In addition, the high iron content in iron deficiency anemia and valuable during pregnancy. The biological value of the proteins in amaranth exceeds even that of the milk. Therefore, amaranth is sometimes attached as a valuable additive to the baby food.

The leaves of all amaranth species are also eaten as a vegetable and have a distinct smell of spinach (if you grates ) and taste like very tender spinach or chard. The protein content of amaranth leaves surpasses even soy. The young inflorescences are used as a vegetable. The seeds and flowers taste nutty and pulled into seedlings, they are also edible. The taproot tastes sweet and after beetroot or beet. However, it is usually woody and must be as small rubbed in order to use them.

The food industry uses amaranth today in the baby and infant food, as additive in bread, pastries and cereals, with pancakes and pasta, also in sausages as well as in the fast -food sector in bars and snacks. There are also attempts to prepare beverages based on amaranth, including the gluten -free beer brewing.

Amaranth unfolds when cooking his typical nutty smell. The consumption can be cooked in muesli or porridge done as a side dish. Amaranth is of only limited for baking. The organic trade leads Amarantkörner pure or as an ingredient (also popped ) in cereal mixtures.

Ingredients

Amaranth has a higher protein and mineral content than most of the world traditionally grown crops. The proteins contain a high proportion of essential amino acids, the content of calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc is very high. A relatively high proportion of carbohydrates are fiber. Amaranth contains many unsaturated fatty acids. The ingredients are combined in a favorable for human consumption ratio.

However, amaranth contains tannins, which may inhibit the absorption and digestion of vitamins, proteins and trace elements.

Others

The word " amaranth " comes from the Greek [ ἀμάραντος ] or Amarantos in German phonetics. It is composed of two words, the prefix ( ἀ ) a = un and the verb ( μαραίνω ) Maraino = pass. It means as much as " the / the one that does not pass / blooms eternal." A plant amaranth was described by Dioscorides in his " Materia Medica". Even Pliny the Elder mentions it (as Amaranthus ) in his Naturalis Historia. The ancient name does not refer to the modern genus, of which at least one species, Amaranthus blitum, the ancient authors was known. The plant described by Dioscorides, yellow flowering was probably the Everlasting flower ( Helichrysum arenarium ). Pliny describes a red flowering species ( " spica purpurea" ), probably silver Celosia ( Celosia argentea ) from the family Amaranthaceae. In both cases, there are plants whose color is retained during drying. The name stuck in ancient times and the Middle Ages for an " everlasting " plant use, the magical properties were attributed, and which could serve as a symbol of the Virgin Mary; it is not always certain whether the literary uses of that name at all based on a real plant, or were more mythical and symbolic meaning.

In the song " Amaranth" by the Finnish band Nightwish this plant is used as a symbol of everlasting beauty and perfection. This symbolism has already been used several years earlier by the Swedish doom metal band Draconian. The name is also the title of the Enya album " Amarantine " is ajar.

As the " Amaranth" (English Purple Heart ) is also the wood of carob plants of the genus Peltogyne called, which is often used because of its eye-catching color for inlay work, but also for example for knife handles.