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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: greenfingered fiend on August 10, 2006, 20:56:57

Title: Please identify my plant.
Post by: greenfingered fiend on August 10, 2006, 20:56:57
I have just started to notice some plants popping up all over the place - any idea what they are?

http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/3382052

I am convinced they are (or at least were) meant to be there as other plots have big rows of the same thing.

Cheers Guys and Gals.

GF.

A lot of the plants are at different stages of growth.
Title: Re: Please identify my plant.
Post by: artichoke on August 10, 2006, 22:07:54
I am sure it is Amaranthus. Google it as a food pant for gluten intolerant people, plus other uses. Also known as "Love lies bleeding"! Family Euphorbeaceae.

As a botanical illustrator, I have had to draw it for a Middle Eastern country where it is an important but weedy food plant, ghastly to illustrate..

"Amaranth has been cultivated for over 7000 years in Mexico. The Aztec civilisation stored over 20 000 tons of the grain, keeping it for 5 to 10 years as a reserve against times of famine. It is now grown in northern India and Nepal as well as Mexico, Guatemala and Peru. Most of the grain in English shops comes from the USA."   http://www.peter-thomson.co.uk/glutenfree/food_from_plants.html
Title: Re: Please identify my plant.
Post by: Hyacinth on August 10, 2006, 23:54:55
Fascinating, 'choke, and what a great job you do 8)