Amaranthus spinosus

Amaranthus spinosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Amaranthaceae
Genus:	Amaranthus
Species:	A. spinosus
Binomial name
Amaranthus spinosus L.

Amaranthus spinosus, commonly known as the spiny amaranth, spiny pigweed, prickly amaranth or thorny amaranth. It is native to the tropical Americas, but it is present on most continents as an introduced species and sometimes a noxious weed. It can be a serious weed of rice cultivation in Asia.

Uses

Dye use

In Khmer language, it is called pti banlar and in Vietnamese giền and its ash was historically used as a grey cloth dye.

Food use

Phat phak khom is a Thai stir-fried dish of the young shoots of the Amaranthus spinosus. This version is stir-fried with egg and minced pork

Like several related species, Amaranthus spinosus is a valued food plant in Africa. It is valued also in Thai cuisine, where it is called phak khom (Thai: ผักขม). In Tamil it is called mullik keerai. In Sanskrit it is called tanduliyaka. it is used as food in the Philippines where it is called kulitis. The leaves of this plant, known as massaagu in the Maldivian language, have been used in the diet of the Maldives for centuries in dishes such as mas huni. In Mexico it is among the species labelled Quelite quintonil in Mexican markets.

External links

• PROTAbase on Amaranthus spinosus
• Jepson Manual Treatment
• Flora of North America
• Amaranthus spinosus in West African plants – A Photo Guide.