Celosia argentea cristata
| Celosia argentea | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Celosia argentea cristata (common name: common cockscomb)
Propagation: Seed - sow early to mid spring in a warm greenhouse. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts. consider giving them some protection, such as a cloche, until they are growing away strongly.
Cultivation: Requires a fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in a sunny sheltered position[1].
Widely cultivated as an ornamental plant, especially in S. Europe[2]. It is often used in summer bedding schemes[3]. There are many named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[1].
Range: Pantropics.
Habitat: Open moist places to elevations of 1600 metres in Nepal[4].
Edibility: Leaves and young shoots - cooked[5][6][7]. Used as a vegetable[4].
Medicinal: The flower and seed is astringent, haemostatic, ophthalmic, parasiticide and poultice[8][9][6]. It is used in the treatment of bloody stool, haemorrhoid bleeding, uterine bleeding, leucorrhoea and diarrhoea[9]. As a parasiticide it is very effective against Trichomonas, a 20% extract can cause the Trichomonas to disappear in 15 minutes[9].
The seed is hypotensive and ophthalmic[9]. It is used in the treatment of bloodshot eyes, blurring of vision, cataracts and hypertension, but should not be used by people with glaucoma because it dilates the pupils[9]. The seed also has an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Pseudomonas[9].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: C. cristata. L.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Stuart, George. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei Southern Materials Centre.
- ↑ Read, Bernard. Famine Foods Listed in the Chiu Huang Pen Ts'ao. Taipei Southern Materials Centre, 1977.
- ↑ Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.