Amaranth is a grain plant and/or leafy vegetable native to the Americas, and favored by the Aztecs. High in fiber and low in saturated fats, the grain can contain as much as 17% protein.*  There are quite a few amaranth volunteers in the mix of “weeds” popping up within the Lewis Ginter (LG) Community Kitchen Garden. I have no idea of the origins of the seed in this case.

I couldn’t resist letting this – now massive – plant mature as a specimen for the teen LG Youth Volunteer Group. I was wondering if this variety might be the “Love Lies Bleeding” strain with the magenta, draping seed plumes.  I don’t think so. Now I’m thinking it’ll have to be removed, before we propagate an unintended crop for next year.

* University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension; University of Minnesota Center for Alternative Plant & Animal Products