Celosia argentea var. cristata

Last updated

Cockscomb
03092jfCelosia argentea var. cristata Bulacanfvf 02.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Celosia
Species:
C. argentea
Variety:
C. a. var. cristata
Trinomial name
Celosia argentea var. cristata
Synonyms

Celosia argentea var. cristata (formerly Celosia cristata), known as cockscomb, is the cristate or crested variety of the species Celosia argentea . It was likely originally native to India, where it was saved from extinction in cultivation by the religious significance attached to the variety by Indian, Burmese, and Chinese gardeners who planted it near temples. The name cockscomb is used because the flower looks like the head on a rooster (cock). The plants are resistant to most diseases, and grow equally well indoors or out, though the perfect place is one with no shade and a well-drained soil, as the plant is susceptible to fungal diseases. [3]

Contents

The plant is mainly cultivated as an ornamental plant for its spectacular flowering and is highly appreciated by horticulturists for its distinctive inflorescence, in the form of wavy crest. The flowers can be cut and dried to make dry bouquets and are used frequently as ornamental plants indoors. Their leaves and flowers can be used as vegetables. They are often grown as food in India, Western Africa, and South America. [4]

The somatic chromosome number for the cristate variety is 2n = 36, while investigation of the typical species revealed a chromosome number of 2n = 72. [5]

Description

They are annual plants of tropical origin and are herbaceous meaning they lack a woody stem, with a straight, juicy and unbranched stem. Its elliptic leaves lanceolate, are green or red-tanned with terminal inflorescences, thick and flattened, velvety, in the form of ridge crest, in the colors red, whitish, roseate or creamy yellow. [6] They grow well in both humid and arid conditions, and their flowers can last for up to 8 weeks. A high number of seeds can be produced by each flower, up to 1,500 per gram or 43,000 per ounce. [7]

The plant often grows up to 30 cm (1 ft) in height, though many are smaller. The leaves are either green or bronze/maroon, depending upon the cultivar. The flower can be broken into three parts: their spikes, plumes and crests vary from one another but have standard commonalities—they are usually brightly colored, usually red, yellow, pink, or orange, though other colors can be present. In some instances, a variety of colors are present in hybrids. [8]

Cultivation

Cockscomb can be grown easily from seed. The plant is of tropical origin, but can also be grown in summer months in colder climates. It is an annual, living for only about one fourth of a year. A soil temperature of about 60 °F (16 °C) [9] is ideal for growth. The plant likes well-drained soils rich in organic matter and prefers full or partial sun. Seeds can be sown indoors from March to May; then seedlings should be transplanted into the garden sometime during May to June. It is necessary to water the plants copiously during the summer, and they will bloom until frost.

Cockscomb is relatively easy to grow and care for. It has few insect pests, although some mites are known to feed on the plants. The plants are susceptible to leaf spot and root rot which can be managed with proper watering. Wetting the leaf and flowers should be avoided as this can lead to fungal diseases. [10] [ self-published source ]

Cultivars include 'Jewel box', 'Century mix', 'New Look', and 'Pink Castle'. The variety of shapes and colors of flowers and leaves make the cultivars of Celosia argentea globally popular ornamental plants.[ citation needed ]

Range

The octoploid form of the variant argentea is the one found worldwide in tropics and subtropics. The tetraploid form occurs only in central and southern India. About the varieties of cristata and plumosa are only cultural references from India, Burma and China handed down,[ clarification needed ] where they have long been planted in the vicinity of religious sites and gardens. In nature, they do not seem to occur, because the plants produce few seeds. The provenance of these cultivated forms is unclear despite several investigations. [11]

Uses

Similar to amaranth, the cockscomb is used as a vegetable. It is the most widely used leafy vegetable in southern Nigeria, and is also part of the diet in Benin, Congo and Indonesia. It is grown in gardens and small farms for their own use and commercially. Even young stems and flowers are eaten. The seeds can also be eaten, they are among the pseudocereals. Due to the resistance to pests and disease and the higher crop yield, the plant appears as a good alternative to amaranth.

In one study it is shown that the silver fire-pot drives weeds out of fields. In particular, the grass plantations such as cereal or sorghum – infested root parasites of the African witch-herbs (genus Striga ) (family of the brown-wort family) could be kept away from fields by common sowing with cockscomb. The yield was increased significantly. The mechanism appears to be a compound produced by C. argentea and functioning within several meters perimeter by means of inducing suicidal germination in Striga seed by as much as 68% compared to cotton which was taken as the standard. [12]

The flowers are a traditional though now seldom-used garnish for desserts, rice cakes and flower-infused alcoholic beverages in Korea.

Chemical composition

Chemical components include water, vitamin C, carotenoids, protein, nitrate, and oxalate. In addition, triterpene saponins could be detected in the roots and seeds of the silver fire. Sugar was found in the root, and flavonoids in leaves and stems. The seeds showed a diuretic effect. Yellow inflorescences of cristata and plumosa may contain high doses of dopamine. [13] Celosian, a polysaccharide from the seeds of the cockscomb tuft, shows the animal model hepatoprotective and immunostimulating effects as well as the aqueous extract from the seeds, wherein also an anti-metastatic effect in the liver of mice could be detected.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rose</span> Genus of plants

A rose is either a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus Rosa, in the family Rosaceae, or the flower it bears. There are over three hundred species and tens of thousands of cultivars. They form a group of plants that can be erect shrubs, climbing, or trailing, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Their flowers vary in size and shape and are usually large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows and reds. Most species are native to Asia, with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America, and Northwest Africa. Species, cultivars and hybrids are all widely grown for their beauty and often are fragrant. Roses have acquired cultural significance in many societies. Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses to climbers that can reach seven meters in height. Different species hybridize easily, and this has been used in the development of the wide range of garden roses.

<i>Begonia</i> Genus of perennial flowering plants

Begonia is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Begoniaceae. The genus contains more than 2,000 different plant species. The Begonias are native to moist subtropical and tropical climates. Some species are commonly grown indoors as ornamental houseplants in cooler climates. In cooler climates some species are cultivated outside in summertime for their bright colorful flowers, which have sepals but no petals.

<i>Rosa multiflora</i> Species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae

Rosa multiflora is a species of rose known commonly as multiflora rose, baby rose, Japanese rose, many-flowered rose, seven-sisters rose, Eijitsu rose and rambler rose. It is native to eastern Asia, in China, Japan, and Korea. It should not be confused with Rosa rugosa, which is also known as "Japanese rose", or with polyantha roses which are garden cultivars derived from hybrids of R. multiflora. It was introduced to North America, where it is regarded as an invasive species.

<i>Rudbeckia hirta</i> Species of flowering plant

Rudbeckia hirta, commonly called black-eyed Susan, is a North American flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Eastern and Central North America and naturalized in the Western part of the continent as well as in China. It has now been found in all 10 Canadian Provinces and all 48 of the states in the contiguous United States.

<i>Pyrus calleryana</i> Species of pear tree

Pyrus calleryana, also known as the Callery pear or Bradford pear, is a species of pear tree native to China and Vietnam, in the family Rosaceae. It is most commonly known for its cultivar 'Bradford' and its offensive odor, widely planted throughout the United States and increasingly regarded as an invasive species.

<i>Anthurium</i> Genus of plants

Anthurium is a genus of about 1,000 species of flowering plants, the largest genus of the arum family, Araceae. General common names include anthurium, tailflower, flamingo flower, pigtail plant, and laceleaf.

<i>Chlorophytum comosum</i> Species of flowering plant

Chlorophytum comosum, usually called spider plant or common spider plant due to its spider-like look, also known as spider ivy, airplane plant, ribbon plant, and hen and chickens, is a species of evergreen perennial flowering plant of the family Asparagaceae. It is native to tropical and Southern Africa but has become naturalized in other parts of the world, including Western Australia and Bangladesh. Chlorophytum comosum is easy to grow as a houseplant because of its resilience, but it can be sensitive to the fluoride in tap water, which commonly gives it "burnt tips". Variegated forms are the most popular.

<i>Celosia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Celosia is a small genus of edible and ornamental plants in the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae. Its species are commonly known as woolflowers, or, if the flower heads are crested by fasciation, cockscombs. The plants are well known in East Africa's highlands and are used under their Swahili name, mfungu.

<i>Celosia argentea</i> Species of edible flowering plant

Celosia argentea, commonly known as the plumed cockscomb or silver cock's comb, is a herbaceous plant of tropical origin in the Amaranthaceae family from India and Nepal. The plant is known for its very bright colors. In India and China it is known as a troublesome weed.

<i>Chamaerops</i> Genus of palms

Chamaerops is a genus of flowering plants in the family Arecaceae. It contains only one species, Chamaerops humilis, variously called European fan palm or the Mediterranean dwarf palm. It is one of the most cold-hardy palms and is used in landscaping in temperate climates.

<i>Rudbeckia laciniata</i> Species of flowering plant

Rudbeckia laciniata, the cutleaf coneflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to North America, where it is widespread in both Canada and the United States. Its natural habitat is wet sites in flood plains, along stream banks, and in moist forests. Common names other than cutleaf coneflower include cutleaf, goldenglow, green-headed coneflower, tall coneflower, sochan and thimbleweed.

<i>Dracaena reflexa</i> Species of flowering plant

Dracaena reflexa is a tree native to Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, and other nearby islands of the Indian Ocean. It is widely grown as an ornamental plant and houseplant, valued for its richly coloured, evergreen leaves, and thick, irregular stems.

<i>Coleus scutellarioides</i> Species of flowering plant

Coleus scutellarioides, commonly known as coleus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to southeast Asia through to Australia. Typically growing to 60–75 cm (24–30 in) tall and wide, it is a bushy, woody-based evergreen perennial, widely grown for the highly decorative variegated leaves found in cultivated varieties. Another common name is painted nettle, reflecting its relationship to deadnettles, which are in the same family. The synonyms Coleus blumei, Plectranthus scutellarioides and Solenostemon scutellarioides are also widely used for this species.

<i>Symphyotrichum lateriflorum</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to central and eastern North America

Symphyotrichum lateriflorum is a species of flowering plant in the aster family (Asteraceae). Commonly known as calico aster, starved aster, and white woodland aster, it is native to eastern and central North America. It is a perennial and herbaceous plant that may reach heights up to 120 centimeters and widths up to 30 centimeters.

Cockscomb is a fleshy growth or crest on the top of the head of a male fowl.

<i>Eriocapitella hupehensis</i> Species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae

Eriocapitella hupehensis, a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, is native to Asia. The specific epithet hupehensis, which means "from Hupeh province, China", refers to a region where the species is known to occur. In Chinese, it is called dǎ pò wǎn huā huā (打破碗花花), which means "broken bowl flower".

<i>Pelargonium <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> hortorum</i> Species of flowering plant

Pelargonium × hortorum, commonly called zonal geranium, or garden geranium, is a nothospecies of Pelargonium most commonly used as an ornamental plant. It is a hybrid between Pelargonium zonale and Pelargonium inquinans. They are the group of Pelargonium cultivars, with leaves marked with a brown annular zone and inflorescence in the form of large balls of tight flowers, usually red, pink, or white. These are the most common geraniums of garden centers and florists, sold in pots for windowsills and balconies or planted in flowerbeds.

<i>Haworthia truncata</i> Species of succulent

Haworthia truncata, locally known as horse's teeth, is a species of succulent plant in the genus Haworthia. It is found in the Little Karoo region, in the far east of the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

<i>Hemipilia graminifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Hemipilia graminifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native to southern Korea and Japan. It is a short herbaceous perennial, growing from a tuber, with small flowers in shades of pink to purple. Many varieties and cultivars are grown in Japan as ornamental plants.

<i>Alternanthera brasiliana</i> Species of plant

Alternanthera brasiliana, also known as large purple alternanthera, metal weed, bloodleaf, parrot leaf, ruby leaf, Brazilian joyweed, purple alternanthera, purple joyweed, is a flowering plant of the amaranth family that is native to the forests of South America and as well as Central America, ranging from northeastern Mexico to northeastern Argentina. It is grown as an ornamental plant.

References

  1. 1 2 "Celosia argentea var. cristata". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens . Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "Celosia argentea f. cristata (L.) Schinz, Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed. 2 [Engler & Prantl] 16c: 29 (1934)". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens . Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  3. ↑ E. Tanne, L. Kuznetsova, J. Cohen, S. Alexandrova, A. Gera: Phytoplasmas as Causal Agents of Celosia Disease in Israel . In: HortScience . Vol. 35, No. 6, October 2000, pp. 1103-1106
  4. ↑ "Celosia cristata". Flora of China. 1 September 2014 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  5. ↑ Grant, William F. 1954. A cytological study of Celosia argentea, C. argentea var. cristata, and their hybrids. Botanical Gazette, 115(4): 323-336.
  6. ↑ Colin W. Wrigley, Harold Corke, Koushik Seetharaman, Jon Faubion: Encyclopedia of Food Grains. Vol. 1, Second Edition, Academic Press, 2016, ISBN   978-0-12-803537-5, p. 275.
  7. ↑ WF Grant: A Cytological Study of Celosia argentea, C. argentea var. Cristata, and Their Hybrids. In: Botanical Gazette. 115 (4), 1954, pp. 323-336.
  8. ↑ Georg August Pritzel, Carl Jessen : The German folk name of the plants. New contribution to the German language treasure. Philipp Cohen, Hanover 1882, page 86.
  9. ↑ "Celosia Flower". Archived from the original on 2011-08-09.
  10. ↑ "Flowers Gallery".
  11. ↑ JR Olupot et al .: The effectiveness of Celosia argentia (Striga chaser) to control Striga on sorghum in Uganda. Crop Protection 22 / - / 2003. Pp. 463-8
  12. ↑ "Celosia cristata". Auburn University. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  13. ↑ Hayakawa et al .: Anti-metastatic and immunomodulating properties of the water extract from Celosia argentea seeds. In: Biol Pharm Bull. 21 (11), 1998, p. 1154-9
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.