Lost Crops of Africa Volume II: Vegetables (2006) / Chapter Skim
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4 Celosia
4 Celosia
Pages 92-103
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From page 93... ...
stamina.3 This intensively cultivated leafy vegetable usually grows about a meter tall but can tower well over 2 m.4 Two types predominate: One bears 1There are 60 Celosia species but this chapter refers mainly to Celosia argentea, the only one widely planted as an ornamental and food crop. A commonly seen synonym (applied selectively to one monstrously distorted form)
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From page 94... ...
These massively wrinkled yellow, orange, crimson, or pink crests often resemble cock's combs. Other variants look like some bright brain coral that inadvertently crawled up out of its habitat beneath the tropical seas.
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From page 95... ...
The fresh young leaves, young stems and young flower spikes are used to produce a tasty and nutritious "soup" that is a daily fare especially in West Africa. Productive and simple to grow, the plant could in the future become a much greater contributor to African welfare, especially to the hot and poorly nourished regions of the equatorial zone.
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From page 96... ...
It is, for instance, Southern Nigeria's most important leaf vegetable and is raised in myriad home gardens and farm plots, both for family and the local market. Humidity and heavy rainfall fail to limit growth, so celosia is commonly cultivated during the wet season when other crops succumb to molds, mildews, and like maladies.
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From page 97... ...
Whether celosia can help farmers fight back is far from clear, but it is widely called "striga chaser" owing to a reputation for sending the weed on its way. There is not complete confirmation of such ability, but one study found that celosia stimulated striga germination and lowered overall levels 50% while increasing sorghum yields.7 Medicinal Uses Various medicinal benefits are widely claimed, including treatments for intestinal worms (particularly tapeworm)
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From page 98... ...
As for diseases, these usually present no problem, but a fungus producing white pustules on leaf undersides seriously damages celosia grown in Nigeria. It is recommended that the infected plants be destroyed to reduce the possibility of infecting subsequent plantings.
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From page 99... ...
Country reports from Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, and other celosia-eating nations would provide valuable baseline data on botany, plant physiology, and growing requirements, as would collation of worldwide experience.10 In addition, this productive, hardy, and attractive plant merits trials in many more areas. Such trials are likely to attract a lot of attention and spearhead the diversification of food crops in new places.
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From page 100... ...
Myriad questions and uncertainties remain to be fully answered, especially optimal ways to cultivate the crop for food production. Striga Chaser Knocking back this parasitic plant would, by itself, boost the production of food in Africa.
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From page 101... ...
is a potherb throughout the savanna area of tropical Africa. Beyond Africa According to old reports, the leaves have been used as spinach in at least Sri Lanka, Yemen, Indonesia, and the West Indies.
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From page 102... ...
High Temperature A stable high temperature of 20-25°C is suitable for both edible varieties. But celosia does quite well in Florida's cool winter as well as its hot summer.11 Soil Celosia tolerates many different soil conditions, although high levels of organic matter encourages good yields and reduces damage from rootknot nematodes 11Information from Martin Price.
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