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Amaranthus viridis - Amaranth, Green pigweed

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Amaranth, Harive soppu

Amaranthus is a cosmopolitan genus of annual or short-lived perennial plant. Some amaranth species are cultivated as leaf vegetables, pseudocereals and ornamental plants. Most of the species from Amaranthus are summer annual weeds and are commonly referred to as pigweed.

Uses

Cancer, Hair loss, Eyesight problem, Cardiovascular disease, Anaemia, Perspiration problems, Cholesterol, Indigestion.

Food

Green pigweed can be used in food. Young shoots and leaves are cooked as vegetable.

Parts Used

Leaves, Seeds.

Chemical Composition

Principal constituents of this plant are saponins. It is rich in minerals and contains sterols and fatty acids in the seeds. The stem and leaves contain oxalic acid[1]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada Mulluharive soppu
Hindi Kanta chaulai
Malayalam Kattumullenkeera
Tamil Mullukkeerai
Telugu Mullatotakura
Marathi NA
Gujarathi NA
Punjabi NA
Kashmiri NA
Sanskrit Tanduliuyah
English Needle burr


Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Guna

Veerya

Vipaka

Karma

Prabhava

Nutritional components

Green pigweed contains the Following nutritional components like Vitamin-A, B12, C, D, K, Niacin (B3), Ribofl avin, Thiamine (B1), Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc[2]

Habit

A slender Herb

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
Simple Deltoid Leaf arrangement is alternate, leaf base is truncate and leaf margins are entire

.[3]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Terminal and axillary spikes 2-4cm long Green/brown 10-18 Flowering peaks in December-April and flower are terminal panicles

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
Achene Fruits are like An utricle, indehiscent, sub compressed, rugose, brownish {{{6}}}

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

Seeds germinate readily. Prefers a well-drained fertile soil in a sunny position. Requires a hot sheltered position if it is to do well. Plants should not be given inorganic fertilizers, see notes above on toxicity. Green pigweed's availability period is September to December[4]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tropical area.

Photo Gallery

References

  1. Chemical Constituents
  2. Forest food for Northern region of western ghat pdf by Dr. Mandar N. Datar and Dr. Anuradha S. Upadhye, MACS - Agharkar Research Institute, Pune
  3. Morphology
  4. Cultivation details

External Links