Spiny Amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus)

Family: Amaranthaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

The leaves and stems of Amaranthus spinosus are eaten raw or cooked as a spinach. Remove the spines in older plants. Seed are easy to harvest and very nutritious. A native of tropical America and is found mainly in warm areas. Common names include: calaloo; needle burr; pigweed; prickly calaloo; prickly callau; prickly caterpillar; spiny amaranthus; spiny calaloo; spiny pigweed; sticker weed; thorny pigweed; wild callau.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves, Shoots

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Leaves and stems - raw or cooked as a spinach. If older leaves and stems are used the spines must be removed. Highly esteemed. — Leaves and stems - raw or cooked as a spinach.; If older leaves and stems are used the spines must be removed.; The dried leaves contain (per 100g) 267 - 276 calories, 20 - 34.4% protein, 2 - 4.5% fat, 45 - 54% carbohydrate, 9.8 - 10.4% fibre, 16.6 - 24% ash, 1795 - 5333mg calcium, 333 - 460mg phosphorus, 13.5 - 152.7mg iron, 13 - 37mg sodium, 337 - 3528mg potassium, 27.9 - 40.8mg betacarotene equivalent, 0.06mg thiamine, 2.02mg riboflavin, 7.7 - 8.6mg niacin and 503mg ascorbic acid.; Very small, about 1mm in diameter, but easy to harvest and very nutritious.

Habitat & North American Range

Roadsides, waste places and fields in South-eastern N. America. (Zone 4)