Scientific
name
Amaranthus caudatus/hybridus/viridis1 L.
Amaranthus patulus (Synonym)
Family name
Amaranthaceae
Local name(s)
Aluma (Amargna), Passa (Konsogna),
Zapina (Arigna)
General description
It is a common annual erect but branched
weed (rarely cultivated for its seeds in some pocket areas of Ethiopia),
with red leaves, flowers, stalk (smooth) and tassels. Seeds are black and
tiny like teff (Eragrostis tef) seeds. The leaves are alternate. The plant
grows mostly in cultivated fields including home gardens.
Edible part(s),
preparation methods and palatability
Leaves
and young shoots are edible. They are boiled and consumed as vegetable and the
husk of the seed is also used as food in Konso while the young branches of the
stalk are also eaten in South Omo by the Ari people. The plant seeds are also
used for preparation of local beverage known as ‘Chaqa’ in Konso.
The plant is very common and semi-domesticated on farm fields in Konso and South
Omo. Some farmers have started to cultivate and intercrop the species on their
farm fields near their homestead. In Konso the species is found intercropped
with cotton, maize, sorghum and beans.
Agroecology
Most
Amaranthus species are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions of
the world. They mostly grow as a weed of cultivation in degraded land and
built-up areas, along rivers, roadsides and forest edges. The species grow in
the low- and midlands as well as on higher altitudes (900 – 2,600m) on a wide
range of soils, but they are most common in middle and high altitudes (1,400 -
2,400m).
Propagation
method(s)
Propagates by seeds.
Sample location(s)
Jarso Kebele, Konso
Remarks
There are two species of the weed
that are edible. Their main difference is in seed, leaf and stalk color.
The first one has white seeds and green leaves and stalk while the other
one is with black seeds and reddish leaves and stalk.
1 Parts of the following
description have been taken from Stroud A, Parker C, 1989: p. 20/21and Maundu et
al., 1999: p.57 - 63
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