| 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, 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. [1]
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In Cambodia, it is called pti banlar and its ash was historically used as a grey dye for cloth. It had many other uses also, including as food.
Like several related species, Amaranthus spinosus is a valued food plant in Africa.[2] It is valued also in Thailand, where it is called Phak Khohm (ผักขม). In Sanskrit it is called Tanduliyaka.