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Synonyms: |
Celosia digyna Suess. |
Common names: | Silver spinach (English) |
Frequency: | Common |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Erect annual herb with simple or branched stems, reaching up to 1 m but often much smaller. Unusual crescent-shaped stipule-like leaves are borne on the stem (at least when young) as well as the ordinary leaves. |
Notes: | Young leaves and shoots are cooked as a vegetable but they need to be cooked for a long time and are mostly mixed with other foods to disguise the bitter taste. |
Derivation of specific name: | |
Habitat: | A weed in cultivated and disturbed places, in grassland and woodland and on rocky ground where it is often small and depauperate (see photo). It also occurs along water courses where it may be semi-aquatic. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 2000 m |
Flowering time: | Mar - Jul |
Worldwide distribution: | Throughout tropical Africa, Namibia and South Africa; also Arabia and Madeira; a weed in Florida |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Thursday 23 February 2017 |
Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 12. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 7. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 20. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 336. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 16. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 22. (Includes a picture). Roodt, V. (2011). Wild flowers, Waterplants and Grasses of the Okavango Delta and Kalahari "Did You Know" nature series Struik Nature for Veronica Roodt Publications Page 9. Note that the illustration with this species is NOT of Celosia trigyna but of a species in Pupalia. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 21. Townsend, C.C. (1988). Amaranthaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(1) Pages 31 - 33. Wild, H. (1955). Common Rhodesian Weeds Government of Rhodesia, Salisbury Page 30. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 87. |
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