Amaranthus blitoides Mat amaranth (Amaranthaceae)

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Amaranthus blitoides
Mat amaranth
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The Amaranthus blitoides plant species is found in N. America - Washington to Utah and Mexico, east to Maine and New Jersey. It is a member of the Amaranthaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Mat amaranth.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Amaranthus blitoides
Common Name:  Mat amaranth
Family:  Amaranthaceae
Author:  S.Wats.

Known Hazards:  No members of this genus are known to be poisonous, but when grown on nitrogen-rich soils they are known to concentrate nitrates in the leaves. This is especially noticeable on land where chemical fertilizers are used. Nitrates are implicated in stomach cancers, blue babies and some other health problems. It is inadvisable, therefore, to eat this plant if it is grown inorganically.

Mature Height:  0.2   Mature Width:  0.3

Habitat:  A weed of disturbed and waste ground[43].

Edible Uses: Leaves - raw or cooked[46, 61, 95, 105]. Rich in vitamins and minerals, it is used as a spinach[206, K]. The leaves can be dried and used as a winter food[257]. Seed - raw or cooked[46, 61, 95, 105, 257]. Very small and fiddly, but the seed is very nutritious. Rich in starch[177]. The seed can be ground into a powder and used in making porridge, bread, mush, as a flavouring in soups etc[257]. The seed can be cooked whole, and becomes very gelatinous like this, but it is rather difficult to crush all of the small seeds in the mouth and thus some of the seed will pass right through the digestive system without being assimilated[K].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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