AMARANTH
(Amaranthus retroflexus)
green amaranth, redroot, pigweed

Description: Coarse, annual weed with stout stems. Numerous species. Taproot, red with stout, hairy stem, 2-5 ft. tall. Leaves, dull, long-pointed wavy edges, rough to the touch. Greenish flowers grow in clusters on tall bristly stalks. Black seeds mature in the fall. A common weed found in wastes ground, fields, roadsides, rich cultivated areas from coast to coast below 9000 ft.

Edible, Medicinal: Leaves, stems, seeds. Young plants make a mild pot-herb, boiled about 15 min, or raw in salads. Abundant, shiny seeds make a nutritious flour. Parch for an hour, then grind. Taken internally as an astringent, which helps in diarrhea, excessive menstruation, a wash for skin problems, a gargle for mouth and throat irritations. Take the tea, cold, 1-2 cups a day or 1/2 to 1 tsp. tincture.

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