The Amaranth Collection Amaranthus spp. Amaranth Amaranths are plants of the genus Amaranthus. The plants are tolerant of heat and drought.
Pollination is by wind or insects, most species are monoecious, some are dioecious.
Amaranth Grain Forms with white seeds were cultivated in prehistory for use as a grain crop. In the United States, breakfast cereals, pastas, breads, etc. containing amaranth grain or flour are available in health food stores. In India, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, and some other countries, amaranth grain is a traditional food used as a gruel or in confectionery products. The grain is also potentially useful as a source of small-grained specialty starch and as a source of squalene oil. Amaranth Vegetable Amaranth foliage is used as a vegetable and as an animal food especially in the tropics and subtropics.