Plant on allotment ID please

alindsay · #1 (**permalink**) 01-12-2011, 05:01 AM

I saw this on a S, Bedfordshire allotment in early October and would be grateful for an ID please.

It was behind railings, so I couldn't get a closer view.

Thanks

Adam Cheeseman · #2 (**permalink**) 01-12-2011, 09:18 AM

Possibly some sort of Amaranth, but I'm not really sure.

Cheers,

Adam

Dorts · #3 (**permalink**) 01-12-2011, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

Possibly some sort of Amaranth, but I'm not really sure.
Cheers,
Adam

Yes it is an Amaranthus. Looks like seedlings from A. caudatus, 'Love Lies Bleeding' or very similar. There are very many of these in cultivation.
Dorts.

Paul mabbott · #4 (**permalink**) 01-12-2011, 11:08 AM

It's probably the remains of a crop; several varieties are grown for their leaf and seeds. Amaranth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

aeshna5 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-12-2011, 03:29 PM

There appear to be 2 diffrent varieties of Amaranthus there.

Dorts · #6 (**permalink**) 01-12-2011, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeshna5

There appear to be 2 diffrent varieties of Amaranthus there.

Yes, the one at the back could be A. cruentus.
As Paul has mentioned, several vars. are now grown as a crop.

24 species have been recorded in Britain and many can be quite variable in form and colour.
Dorts.