Love-lies-bleeding
Amaranthus caudatus
''Amaranthus caudatus'' is a species of annual flowering plant. It goes by common names such as love-lies-bleeding, pendant amaranth, tassel flower, velvet flower, foxtail amaranth, and quilete.
Many parts of the plant, including the leaves and seeds, are edible, and are frequently used as a source of food in India as well as in South America, where it is the most important Andean species of ''Amaranthus'', known as kiwicha. This species, as with many other amaranths, is originally from the American tropics. The exact origin is unknown, as ''A. caudatus'' is believed to be a wild ''Amaranthus hybridus'' aggregate.
The red color of the inflorescences is due to a high content of betacyanins, as in the related species known as "Hopi red dye" amaranth. Ornamental garden varieties sold under the latter name are either ''Amaranthus cruentus'' or a hybrid between ''A. cruentus'' and ''Amaranthus powellii''. In indigenous agriculture, ''A. cruentus'' is the Central American counterpart to South American ''A. caudatus''.
During the Victorian era, specific flowers had different meanings. Love-lies-bleeding stood for hopeless love or hopelessness in the Victorian language of flowers.
Many parts of the plant, including the leaves and seeds, are edible, and are frequently used as a source of food in India as well as in South America, where it is the most important Andean species of ''Amaranthus'', known as kiwicha. This species, as with many other amaranths, is originally from the American tropics. The exact origin is unknown, as ''A. caudatus'' is believed to be a wild ''Amaranthus hybridus'' aggregate.
The red color of the inflorescences is due to a high content of betacyanins, as in the related species known as "Hopi red dye" amaranth. Ornamental garden varieties sold under the latter name are either ''Amaranthus cruentus'' or a hybrid between ''A. cruentus'' and ''Amaranthus powellii''. In indigenous agriculture, ''A. cruentus'' is the Central American counterpart to South American ''A. caudatus''.
During the Victorian era, specific flowers had different meanings. Love-lies-bleeding stood for hopeless love or hopelessness in the Victorian language of flowers.