Amaranthus blitum | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Core eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Amaranthaceae |
Genus: | Amaranthus |
Species: | A. blitum |
Binomial name | |
Amaranthus blitum L. |
Amaranthus blitum, commonly called purple amaranth is an annual plant species in economically important plant family Amaranthaceae.
Native to the Mediterranean region, and naturalized in other parts of the world including much of eastern North America.[1] Although weedy, it is eaten in many parts of the world.[2] The Greeks call the Amaranthus blitum var. silvestre, vlita (Greek: βλήτα), and eat the leaves and the tender shoots cooked in steam or boiled and then served with olive oil, lemon and salt.