The genus Amaranthus
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General
- Wide distribution: Americas, Asia, Oceania; approx. 75 sp., mostly
in the Americas
- Habitat: desert washes, streambanks, ocean beaches
- Natural dispersal: by seeds through birds
- C4 photosynthesis: thrives in high temp., low moisture (limited
transpiration)
- Provides examples of vicarious domestications
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The Asian amaranths
- Amaranthus tricolor, A. lividis
- Species selected as potherbs; no development of large inflorescences
or heavy seed yield
- Widely grown as a vegetable in India, East Indies, S.E. Asia,
Far East
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The American amaranths
- Species selected for increased grain production --> large
compound inflorescence
- contrast with true cereals: here, selection for the number
of seeds rather than seed size (1 mm)
- No selection for decreased dehiscence
- contrast with true cereals: little loss in seeds; remain in
inflorescence, which is cut, dried, threshed, and winnowed
- Three species:
- A. cruentus: eastern N. America, tropical highlands of
Mex., C. Am., S. Am.
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- A. hypochondriacus: western Sierra Madre in Mexico
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- A. caudatus: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, N.W. Argentina
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- Selection of clear-seeded: light color is associated with:
- recessiveness
- associated with loss of dormancy
- pops and tastes better
- Used for:
- leaves: salads, soups, protein concentrates, dye
- stems: feed, fuel
- Nutritional value:
- higher in protein than cereals: 13-18%
- high in Ca, Mg, P, Fe, K, Zn, vit. E & B-complex
- high in fibers
- Cultivation and utilization
- much more restricted than maize; currently major region of cultivation is India
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(bundle of leaves sold on the market) and
(freshly harvested leaves)
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- Historical records:
- huauhtli: 8,100,000 kg (amaranth+chenopod)
- Linguistic: náhuatl: huauhtli, quilitl; quechua: kiwicha
- Ceremonial role: paste of huauhtli grains and agave (maguey)
honey:
- large replica (tzoalli) of war god Huitzlipochtli
- paraded through the streets of Tenochtitlan
- distributed to people as flesh and bones of the god (note
red color)
- Spanish catholics: parody of communion --> actively suppressed
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(bundle of leaves sold on the market) and
(freshly harvested leaves)