Inca-wheat (Amaranthus caudatus, Sp. Pl.: 990 (1753))

Family: Amaranthaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 990 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Amaranthus

Vegetable: False

Observations: Ecuador to NW. Argentina

Description

Inca-wheat, scientifically known as Amaranthus caudatus, is a treasured plant native to the regions ranging from Ecuador to Northwestern Argentina. Classified within the Amaranthaceae family, this plant holds a significant cultural and agricultural value.

Amaranthus caudatus is renowned for its distinctive, drooping flower spikes that can exhibit vibrant shades of red, purple, or gold. These cascading inflorescences add an ornamental charm to gardens and landscapes, making Inca-wheat a popular choice among garden enthusiasts. Aside from its aesthetic appeal, the plant also serves a functional role, particularly in its native regions.

Inca-wheat thrives in a variety of soil types and is known for its resilience in different environmental conditions. This adaptability has allowed it to become a staple crop in several areas, where it is cultivated for its nutrient-rich seeds. These seeds are a valuable source of protein and other essential nutrients, contributing to the dietary needs of local populations. Traditional agricultural practices often embrace the cultivation of Amaranthus caudatus, leveraging its robustness and high yield.

The historical significance of Inca-wheat is profound. Dating back centuries, it has been a part of the indigenous agricultural practices and diets, earning its nickname from the ancient Inca civilization who revered it as a vital crop. Today, it continues to be an important aspect of local agriculture and is celebrated for its contribution to food security and nutrition.

Moreover, ongoing research and interest in this plant have highlighted its potential benefits beyond traditional uses. Studies have explored its applications in modern dietary trends, such as gluten-free diets and superfood supplements, due to its rich nutritional profile.

In summary, Inca-wheat (Amaranthus caudatus) is more than just a plant; it is a cultural icon and an agricultural asset. From its striking floral displays to its critical role in traditional and contemporary diets, it continues to inspire and nourish communities throughout its native range.

Common Names

Fra: amarante queue-de-renard, amarante caudée, discipline des religieux, queue de renard
Ita: amaranto coda rossa, disciplina delle monache
Eng: foxtail, foxtail amaranth, inca-wheat, love-lies-bleeding, purple amaranth, quelite, red-hot-cattail, tassel-flower, velvet-flower
Deu: garten-amarant, garten-amarant, garten-fuchsschwanz, garten-amaranth, garten-fuchsschwanz, gartenfuchsschwanz, hängender fuchsschwanz, inkaweizen
Spa: moco de pavo, achita, bledo francés, choroes-dos-jardins, kiwicha, moncos-de-perú, quilete, trigo del inca
Dan: rævehale-amarant
Lav: astainais amarants
Por: bredo-macho, cauda-de-raposa, chorão-de-jardim, moncos-de-peru, rabo-de-gato
Hun: bókoló amaránt
Ell: glintos
Ara: kef alemhena
Est: longus rebashein
Swe: rävsvans, röd amarant
Nld: kattenstaartamarant
Cym: mari waedlyd
En: Inca-wheat, Foxtail, Foxtail amaranth, Tassel-flower, Purple amaranth, Love-lies-bleeding, Red-hot-cattail, Velvet-flower, Pendant amaranth, Tassel Flower, Velvet Flower, Quilete, Quelite, Mucronate Amaranth, Amaranth, Fox Tail Amaranth, Love Lies Bleeding, Jataco
Am: ሊሻሊሾ
Ar: Kef alemhena, عرف الديك (عُرف الديك), قطيفة مذنبة
Hy: Հավակատար պոչավոր
Az: Süpürgəvarı qaratərə
Eu: Kiuitxa
Be: Аксамітнік хвастаты
Ca: Cua de guineu
Zh: Lao qiang gu, 尾穗苋, 尾穗莧
Cs: Laskavec ocasatý
Da: Rævehale-amarant
Dv: ރަތް މައްސާގު
Nl: Kattenstaartamarant, Kattestaartamarant
Et: Longus rebashein
Fi: Punarevonhäntä
Fr: Discipline des religieux, Queue de renard, Amarante caudée, Amarante queue-de-renard, Amarante queue de renard, Queue-de-renard, Amarante etalée, Amarante hybride, Blé des Incas
De: Inkaweizen, Gartenfuchsschwanz, Garten-Amarant, Garten-Amarant, Garten-Fuchsschwanz, Garten-Amaranth, Garten-Fuchsschwanz, Hängender Fuchsschwanz, Quito-Fuchsschwanz, Amarant
El: Glintos
Ha: Alayyafo
Hu: Bókoló amaránt
It: Amaranto coda rossa, Disciplina delle monache, Amaranto coda-rossa
Ja: Sennin-koku, Himo-geitō
Kk: Амарант
Ko: Julmaendeurami
Lv: Astainais amarants
Lt: Uodegotasis burnotis
Mr: राजगिरा
Ne: लट्टे
Fa: بستان‌افروز
Pl: Szarłat zwisły
Pt: Moncos-de-Peru, Bredo-macho, Cauda-de-raposa, Chorão-de-jardim, Rabo-de-gato
Qu: Achita, Kiwicha
Ro: Moțul curcanului
Ru: Амарант хвостатый
Sa: Jataco
Sr: Репати амарант
Es: Achita, Quilete, Trigo del Inca, Bledo francés, Kiwicha, Achis, Achos, Ataco, Coimi, Incajataco, Millmi, Sangoracha, Moco de pavo, Choroes-dos-jardins, Moncos-de-perú, Quinoa de Castilla, Quinoa del valle, Trigo inca, Amaranto, Coime
Sv: Rävsvans, Röd amarant
Zh-tw: 尾穗莧
Zh-hant: 尾穗莧
Uz: Qizilquyruq
Cy: Mari Waedlyd

Synonyms

• Amaranthus pendulinus (Moq.)
• Amaranthus maximus (Mill.)
• Amaranthus mantegazzianus (Pass.)
• Amaranthus caudatus f. alopecurus ((Moq.) Thell.)
• Amaranthus abyssinicus (L.H.Bailey)
• Amaranthus pendulus (Moq.)
• Amaranthus cararu (Moq.)
• Amaranthus caudatus var. albiflorus (Moq.)
• Amaranthus caudatus var. maximus ((Mill.) Corrie)
• Amaranthus caudatus subsp. mantegazzianus ((Pass.) Hanelt)
• Amaranthus caudatus var. alopecurus (Moq.)
• Amaranthus dussii (Sprenger)
• Amaranthus edulis var. typicus (Hunz.)
• Amaranthus alopecurus (Hochst. ex A.Br. & C.D.Bouché)
• Amaranthus edulis var. spadiceus (Hunz.)
• Amaranthus caudatus subsp. saueri (V.Jehlík)
• Amaranthus hybridus subsp. caudatus ((L.) Iamonico & Galasso)
• Euxolus arvensis (Rojas Acosta)
• Amaranthus edulis (Speg.)

Distribution

• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• Peru (native)
• Algeria (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Belize (introduced)
• Brazil North (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Central African Repu (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Cyprus (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• Djibouti (introduced)
• East European Russia (introduced)
• Egypt (introduced)
• Eritrea (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Finland (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Greece (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Guinea-Bissau (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Inner Mongolia (introduced)
• Iran (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kazakhstan (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• Lebanon-Syria (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Maldives (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Morocco (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Nepal (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• North Caucasus (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Northern Territory (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Palestine (introduced)
• Paraguay (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• Sardegna (introduced)
• Sicilia (introduced)
• Sinai (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Sudan (introduced)
• Sumatera (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Transcaucasus (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Uganda (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Yemen (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Nov 25, 2017 by Juana Marin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 4, 2017 by jacques chavaribeyre (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 18, 2019 by Ludivine Bonet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 29, 2018 by Shannon Murillo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 4, 2017 by jean paul goachet (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Sep 18, 2019 by François Combe (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 18, 2019 by François Combe (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2021 by Manū (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 20, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 4, 2017 by jacques chavaribeyre (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Aug 15, 2021 by Z H (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 23, 2019 by robert eckett (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 20, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 4, 2017 by jacques chavaribeyre (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 29, 2018 by Shannon Murillo (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Sep 7, 2022 by Irmgard Groß (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 11, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2022 by Irmgard Groß (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 8, 2020 by Margo05 (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 3, 2022 by Alcenor Alves Da Silva Silva (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 17, 2019 by Andreas (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 27, 2021 by Schilling Annette (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 20, 2022 by jerry corven (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 15, 2022 by Gabriella Laure (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 19, 2008 by Carlos Villasante (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Sep 21, 2018 by Patrick Daullet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 29, 2020 by mnl momji (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 6, 2019 by patriez vilplocktigern (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 26, 2021 by Andre S (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 19, 2022 by Elfenbeinspecht (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/6109611)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:316347-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Amaranthus caudatus L.)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Forb/herb

Growth

Sowing: Direct seed, thin seedlings to 15cm

Row spacing: {‘cm’: 20}

Spread: {‘cm’: 90}

Ph maximum: 8.0

Ph minimum: 7.5

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 3

Soil nutriments: 8