Celosia argentea var. cristata

Name and publication

Celosia argentea L. var. cristata (L.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. pl. 2: 541 (1891).

Description

This is a cultivated variety of celosia, C. argentea var. argentea; the spikes are flattened, truncate, and irregularly lobed (cristate) at the top, resembling a coral or cock’s comb. The entire inflorescence of cockscomb may reach 23 cm long x 5 cm wide but is usually present in broken pieces in potpourri. Colors include yellow, orange, pink, and red (or mix-colored), but most often the red form is used in potpourri. Each flower has three scarious bracts and five perianth segments. The many seeds are lenticular, shiny, and black.

Nativity and distribution

Celosia argentea is probably native to India but is now a pantropical weed.

Family

Amaranthaceae, also placed in Chenopodiaceae

Synonymy

Celosia cristata L.