Celosia cristata
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| Cockscomb | ||||||||||||||
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 Celosia cristata
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| Celosia cristata L. |
Celosia cristata is a member of the genus Celosia, and is commonly known as cockscomb, since the flower looks like the head on a rooster (cock). They are annual plants of tropical origin, and their leaves and flowers can be used as vegetables. They are often grown as foods in India, Western Africa, and South America.
They grow well in both humid and arid conditions, and their flowers can last for up to 8 weeks. A high number of seeds can be produced by each flower, up to 43,000 per ounce. The plant often grows up to 1 foot in height, though many are smaller. The leaves are either green or bronze/maroon, depending upon the cultivar. The flowers are usually red, yellow, pink, or orange, though other colors can be present. In some instances, a variety of colors are present in hybrids.
Cultivars include 'Jewel box', 'Century mix', 'New Look', and 'Pink Castle'.
