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What is the profile of amaranth?

Acalypha australis L.

Alternative names

Acalypha australis L.

Morphological characteristics

Annual herb , 30-50cm high. The stem is erect and multi-branched. The leaves are alternate, oval, oval-lanceolate, 2.5-8cm long, 1.5-3.5cm wide, apex acuminate, base wedge-shaped, with three veins, both sides covered with sparse pubescence or nearly hairless; petiole 1-3cm long. The flowers are unisexual, monoecious and have no petals; most male flowers are born at the upper end of the inflorescence, with a 4-lobed calyx and 8 stamens; female flowers are located in the leaf-like bracts at the lower end of the inflorescence. The bracts are kidney-shaped, 1-2cm long, and look like clams when they are combined. , sepals 3, ovary 3-chambered. The capsule is small, blunt triangular, covered with coarse hairs; the seeds are oval, about 2mm long, grayish brown, and weigh 1.12g per thousand seeds (Figure 110).

Figure 110 Acalypha australis L.

Acalypha australis L.

Geographic distribution

In my country, it is distributed in the south of the Yangtze River and the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. Coastal and southwest and south China provinces and regions; abroad, North Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and the Philippines are also found.

Biological and ecological characteristics

Under wild conditions in northern and temperate regions, seedlings generally emerge from May to June, bloom from July to August, and mature seeds from August to September; In the south and subtropical areas, seedlings usually emerge from mid-April to early May, bloom from July to August, and bear fruit from September to October. The growth period is about 150-190 days. Under natural conditions, seeds can germinate in spring, summer, and autumn once they encounter suitable conditions. In subtropical areas, seedlings emerge in summer and autumn, and there are still flowers and fruits in mid-November. The regeneration capacity is not strong and can be used 2-3 times a year.

The distribution is relatively scattered. It likes to grow on the edges of fields, roadsides, cultivated land, ditch edges, under forest on hillside, and in gaps around residential areas. It sometimes appears as the dominant species on abandoned cultivated land to form small communities. . The soil requirements are not strict. It can grow in sandy soil or clay soil, weakly alkaline soil or acidic soil. However, if the conditions of fertilizer, water and light are sufficient, and the soil environment is warm, moist and loose, the growth and development will be better and the grass yield will be high. On the contrary, the growth will be poor and the grass yield will be low. Seeds require higher temperatures to germinate and can only germinate when the average temperature is above 10°C.

Feeding value

The stems and leaves are tender and juicy, and the leaves are large, accounting for more than 75% of the total weight. Pigs, rabbits, cattle, sheep, and geese all like to eat it.

Amaranth is scattered in scattered distribution, and the grass yield is not high. In small concentrated communities, the grass yield is 1000-1500kg per mu. Judging from the chemical composition (Table 110-1), it is rich in crude protein and nitrogen-free extract, has low crude fiber content, and has relatively high nutritional value (Table 110-2). Digestible energy, metabolizable energy and digestible protein content are of the medium type. Therefore, whether it is used for grazing or combined with farmland weeding and mowing to feed livestock and poultry, it has certain utilization value.

Table 110-1 Chemical components of amaranth Hu Jian, 1979, "Analysis of nutritional components of wild plant feed in Gulin Province". (%)

Table 110-2 Energy and digestible protein content of amaranth

Quoted from: "Pork and Chicken Feed Ingredients and Nutritional Value Table" compiled by the Institute of Animal Husbandry, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences 》, Agricultural Press, 1979.

Other uses

It can be eaten as a vegetable; the whole plant can be used as medicine, which can clear away heat and detoxify, diuretic and reduce swelling, and treat dysentery and diarrhea.