PLANT PROFILE

NAME: Amaranth

SPECIES / FAMILY: Amaranthus Palmeri / Amaranthaceae

COMMON NAME(S): Palmer Amaranth, pigweed

CONDITIONS: sun/shade

PARTS:	EDIBLE	TASTE	RAW / COOK	SEASON
All
Shoots
Leaves		spinach	RAW / COOK	Late Spring-Fall
Buds/Flowers
Fruits
Roots
Seeds		nutty	RAW / COOK	Summer/Fall
Nuts
Pods
Stalk
Bark

PORTION: small/herb

COMMENT: Superfood. Delicious cooked leaves. Place leaves in boiling water and remove from stove to sit for 20 minutes, leaving the lid off. Should be thoroughly cooked, but retain green color. Seeds can be eaten raw, roasted, ground into flour, or popped like popcorn.

CAUTION: Always go slow with any plant in case you are allergic or sensitive to it. // Although PFAF says that the stalk is edible, the stalk contains too much fiber for smooth digestion and can result in hard bulky stools. Also, Amaranth contains oxalic acid, to minimize, boil with lid off.

NUTRITION/MEDICINAL:

o http://nutritiondata.self.com/foods-amaranth000000000000000000000.html

o http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2303/2

o https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-869/amaranth The leaves, stems and seeds of Palmer amaranth are edible and highly nutritious. The leaves are cooked as a spinach. The seed is also cooked and then used with cereal flours in porridge and breads. (1)

LOOK-A-LIKES / RELATED: mat and spiny amaranths

POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES: deadly nightshade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atropa_belladonna

OTHER USES: Yellow and green dyes can be obtained from the whole plant (1)
http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/a/amaranthus-palmeri=careless-weed.php

SOURCE LINKS (includes medicinal info and other uses):