View source for Biology:Celosia argentea var. cristata

{{Short description|Variety of flowering plant}}
{{Incomprehensible|date=August 2020|machine=yes|reason=Weird or bad English, plant name isn't correct in places, plants don't generally have "ingredients", some totally unreadable sentences throughout. }}

{{Infraspeciesbox
|name = Cockscomb
|image = 03092jfCelosia argentea var. cristata Bulacanfvf 02.jpg
|genus = Celosia
|species = argentea
|varietas = cristata
|authority = ([[Biography:Carl Linnaeus|L.]]) Kuntze<ref name=IPNI1>{{IPNI|id=1073771-2|accessdate=4 July 2012}}</ref>
|synonyms = *''C. cristata'' <small>L.</small><ref name=IPNI1 />
*''C. argentea'' f. ''cristata'' <small>(L.) Schinz</small><ref name=IPNI2>{{IPNI|id=60449119-2|accessdate=4 July 2012|title=Celosia argentea f. cristata (L.) Schinz, Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed. 2 [Engler & Prantl] 16c: 29 (1934).}}</ref>
}}

'''''Celosia argentea'' var. ''cristata''''' (formerly '''''Celosia cristata'''''), known as '''cockscomb''', is the [[Biology:Fasciation|cristate]] or crested [[Biology:Variety (botany)|variety]] of the species ''[[Biology:Celosia argentea|Celosia argentea]]''. It was likely originally native to {{wipe|India}}, where it was saved from extinction in cultivation by the religious significance attached to the variety by Indian, Burmese, and Chinese gardeners who planted it near temples. The name '''cockscomb''' is used because the flower looks like the head on a rooster (cock). The plants are resistant to most diseases, and grow equally well indoors or out, though the perfect place is one with no shade and a well-drained soil, as the plant is susceptible to [[Biology:Fungal disease|fungal disease]]s.<ref>E. Tanne, L. Kuznetsova, J. Cohen, S. Alexandrova, A. Gera: Phytoplasmas as Causal Agents of Celosia Disease in Israel . In: HortScience . Vol.  35, No.  6, October 2000, pp.  1103-1106</ref>

The plant is mainly cultivated as an ornamental plant for its spectacular flowering and is highly appreciated by horticulturists for its distinctive inflorescence, in the form of wavy crest. The flowers can be cut and dried to make dry bouquets and are used frequently as ornamental plants indoors. Their leaves and flowers can be used as vegetables. They are often grown as food in India, Western Africa, and South America.<ref>{{eFloras|2|200006993|Celosia cristata|date=1 September 2014}}</ref>

The [[Biology:Somatic|somatic]] chromosome number for the cristate variety is 2n = 36, while investigation of the typical species revealed a chromosome number of 2n = 72.<ref name="Grant">Grant, William F. 1954. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2473317 A cytological study of ''Celosia argentea'', ''C. argentea'' var. ''cristata'', and their hybrids.] ''Botanical Gazette'', 115(4): 323-336.</ref>

==Description==
They are [[Biology:Annual plant|annual plant]]s of tropical origin and are herbaceous meaning they lack a woody stem, with a straight, juicy and unbranched stem. Its elliptic leaves lanceolate, are green or red-tanned with terminal [[Biology:Inflorescence|inflorescence]]s, thick and flattened, velvety, in the form of ridge crest, in the colors red, whitish, roseate or creamy yellow.<ref>Colin W. Wrigley, Harold Corke, Koushik Seetharaman, Jon Faubion: Encyclopedia of Food Grains. Vol. 1, Second Edition, Academic Press, 2016, {{ISBN|978-0-12-803537-5}}, p. 275.</ref> 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 1,500 per gram or 43,000 per ounce<!--original value given in the article-->.<ref>WF Grant: A Cytological Study of Celosia argentea, C. argentea var. Cristata, and Their Hybrids. In: Botanical Gazette. 115 (4), 1954, pp. 323-336.</ref>

The plant often grows up to {{convert|1|ft|cm|abbr=on|order=flip}} in height, though many are smaller.  The leaves are either green or bronze/maroon, depending upon the cultivar.  The flower can be broken into three parts: their spikes, plumes and crests vary from one another but have standard commonalities—they are usually brightly colored, usually red, yellow, pink, or orange, though other colors can be present.  In some instances, a variety of colors are present in hybrids.<ref>Georg August Pritzel, Carl Jessen : The German folk name of the plants. New contribution to the German language treasure. Philipp Cohen, Hanover 1882, page 86.</ref>

==Cultivation==
Cockscomb can be grown easily from seed. The plant is of tropical origin, but can also be grown in summer months in colder climates. It is an [[Biology:Annual plant|annual]], living for only about one fourth of a year. A soil temperature of about {{convert|60|F|C}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celosiaflower.net/celosia_cristata/celosia_cristata.html|title=Celosia Flower|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809015417/http://www.celosiaflower.net/celosia_cristata/celosia_cristata.html|archivedate=2011-08-09}}</ref> is ideal for growth. The plant likes well-drained soils rich in [[Chemistry:Organic matter|organic matter]] and prefers full or partial sun. Seeds can be sown indoors from March to May; then seedlings should be transplanted into the garden sometime during May to June. It is necessary to water the plants copiously during the summer, and they will bloom until [[Earth:Frost|frost]].

Cockscomb is relatively easy to grow and care for. It has few insect pests, although some mites are known to feed on the plants. The plants are susceptible to [[Biology:Leaf spot|leaf spot]] and [[Biology:Root rot|root rot]] which can be managed with proper watering.  Wetting the leaf and flowers should be avoided as this can lead to fungal diseases.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flowersgallery.net/summer/cockcomb-celosia-cristata-specs-pictures-information|title=Flowers Gallery}}</ref>{{Self-published source|date=August 2020|reason=Blog with bizarre English (much like this wiki article) and a bunch of links to other flower blogs... potential content farm}} 

Cultivars include 'Jewel box', 'Century mix', 'New Look', and 'Pink Castle'. The variety of shapes and colors of flowers and leaves make the cultivars of ''Celosia argentea'' globally popular ornamental plants.{{cn|date=August 2020}}

==Range==
The octoploid form of the variant argentea is the one found worldwide in tropics and [[Earth:Subtropics|subtropics]]. The tetraploid form occurs only in central and southern India. About the varieties of cristata and plumosa are only cultural references from India, Burma and China handed down,{{clarify|date=April 2022}} where they have long been planted in the vicinity of religious sites and gardens. In nature, they do not seem to occur, because the plants produce few seeds. The provenance of these cultivated forms is unclear despite several investigations.<ref>JR Olupot et al .: The effectiveness of Celosia argentia (Striga chaser) to control Striga on sorghum in Uganda. Crop Protection 22 / - / 2003. Pp. 463-8</ref>

==Uses==
Similar to [[Biology:Amaranth|amaranth]], the cockscomb is used as a vegetable. It is the most widely used leafy vegetable in southern Nigeria, and is also part of the diet in Benin, Congo and Indonesia. It is grown in gardens and small farms for their own use and commercially. Even young stems and flowers are eaten. The seeds can also be eaten, they are among the pseudocereals. Due to the resistance to pests and disease and the higher crop yield, the plant appears as a good alternative to amaranth.

In one study it is shown that the silver fire-pot drives weeds out of fields. In particular, the grass plantations such as [[Biology:Cereal|cereal]] or [[Biology:Sorghum|sorghum]] – infested root [[Biology:Parasite|parasite]]s of the African witch-herbs (genus ''[[Biology:Striga|Striga]]'') (family of the brown-wort family) could be kept away from fields by common sowing with cockscomb. The yield was increased significantly. The mechanism appears to be a compound produced by ''C. argentea'' and functioning within several meters perimeter by means of inducing suicidal germination in ''Striga'' seed by as much as 68% compared to cotton which was taken as the standard.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ag.auburn.edu/hort/landscape/dbpages/441.html|title=Celosia cristata|publisher=Auburn University|accessdate=November 9, 2015}}</ref>

The flowers are a traditional though now seldom-used garnish for desserts, rice cakes and flower-infused alcoholic beverages in Korea.

==Chemical Composition==
Chemical components include water, [[Biology:Vitamin C|vitamin C]], [[Biology:Carotenoid|carotenoid]]s, [[Biology:Protein|protein]], [[Chemistry:Nitrate|nitrate]], and [[Chemistry:Oxalate|oxalate]]. In addition, triterpene saponins could be detected in the roots and seeds of the silver fire. Sugar was found in the root, and [[Chemistry:Flavonoid|flavonoid]]s in leaves and stems. The seeds showed a [[Chemistry:Diuretic|diuretic]] effect. Yellow inflorescences of cristata and plumosa may contain high doses of [[Biology:Dopamine|dopamine]].<ref>Hayakawa et al .: Anti-metastatic and immunomodulating properties of the water extract from Celosia argentea seeds. In: Biol Pharm Bull. 21 (11), 1998, p. 1154-9</ref> Celosian, a [[Chemistry:Polysaccharide|polysaccharide]] from the seeds of the cockscomb tuft, shows the animal model hepatoprotective and immunostimulating effects as well as the [[Chemistry:Aqueous|aqueous]] extract from the seeds, wherein also an anti-metastatic effect in the liver of mice could be detected.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:CelosiaCristataYellowToreador.jpg|Yellow ''Celosia argentea'' var. ''cristata''
File:Célosia cristata plante rose-rouge.JPG|Pink ''Celosia argentea'' var. ''cristata''
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Biology:Celosia argentea|Celosia argentea]]

==References==  
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from1=Q5058425|from2=Q1186867}}

[[Category:Celosia|argentea var. cristata]]

{{Sourceattribution|Celosia argentea var. cristata}}