love-lies-bleeding

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Inca-wheat
• foxtail amaranth
• love-lies-bleeding
• foxtail
• purple amaranth
• red-hot-cattail
• tassel-flower
• velvet-flower
• Amarant
• Love Lies Bleeding

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Amaranthus caudatus f. alopecurus
• Amaranthus hybridus subsp. caudatus
• Amaranthus caudatus var. albiflorus
• Amaranthus caudatus var. alopecurus
• Amaranthus caudatus subsp. mantegazzianus
• Amaranthus caudatus var. maximus
• Amaranthus caudatus subsp. saueri
• Amaranthus edulis var. spadiceus
• Amaranthus dussii
• Amaranthus mantegazzianus
• Amaranthus maximus
• Amaranthus pendulinus
• Amaranthus pendulus
• Amaranthus abyssinicus
• Amaranthus alopecurus
• Euxolus arvensis
• Amaranthus caudatus var. atropurpureus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Amaranthus caudatus, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Caryophyllales and the family Amaranthaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Amaranthus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the northern regions of the European continent. Within Northern Europe, it can be found growing in the country of Denmark. Its presence extends further north into the territories of Finland and Norway. Additionally, the species is documented within the borders of Sweden. Finally, its geographical range includes the island nation of Great Britain.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Amaranthus caudatus is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and a wide altitudinal distribution. It thrives across a significant elevation gradient, ranging from a minimum of 400 m AMSL to a maximum of 2600 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 1800 m AMSL. This species demonstrates high ecological plasticity, inhabiting several distinct ecosystems, including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), Campinarana, and the Cerrado (latu sensu) biome. Additionally, it is found within Ombrophilous Forests (Floresta Ombrófila), which includes pluvial forest environments, allowing it to occupy both open, disturbed landscapes and more stable, humid forest settings.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campinarana, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Amaranthus caudatus is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental sequence—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. Functionally, it is classified as a therophyte, a life form defined by its strategy of surviving unfavorable environmental conditions as dormant seeds rather than through persistent vegetative structures. This strategy allows the species to rapidly colonize available niches during favorable periods, utilizing its annual growth pattern to maximize reproductive output before the onset of seasonal stress.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Amaranthus caudatus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber (such as a liana or vine) or a parasite, growing instead as an independent organism. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with a minimum height of 0.25 m, a maximum height of 1.5 m, and a mean plant height of approximately 1.3575 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

1.3575 m

Plant height min:

0.25 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Amaranthus caudatus is characterized by a highly efficient C4 photosynthetic pathway, allowing for optimized carbon fixation and resource utilization. The plant's foliar morphology is defined by ovate-shaped leaves that exhibit significant morphological variation, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 10 cm. These leaves maintain a consistent width, recorded at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 3.3 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of approximately 41.1722 cm². In terms of leaf architecture and resource allocation, the species possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 196.7 cm²/g. Functionally, Amaranthus caudatus is a non-carnivorous organism and does not possess the physiological capacity for biological nitrogen fixation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

41.1722 cm²

Leaf width mean:

3.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

196.7 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Amaranthus caudatus is primarily driven by sexual processes, as asexual reproduction is absent in this species. The flowering period typically commences in July and concludes in September. The plant's pollination strategy is characterized as abiotic, specifically utilizing wind as the primary pollination syndrome. During the reproductive phase, the flowers exhibit a width ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3 cm. Once fertilization occurs—which is facilitated by the presence of self-fertilization capabilities—the plant produces seeds through a dehiscence mechanism. These seeds are characterized by a mean mass of approximately 0.000586722 g (with values ranging from a minimum of 2e-04 g to a maximum of 8e-04 g) and a mean width of 1.3 mm (with a recorded range between 1 mm and 1.3 mm). For the dissemination of these seeds, the plant employs a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to aid in the spread of its progeny.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower width max:

3 cm

Flower width min:

2 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

8e-04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000586722 g

Seed mass min:

2e-04 g

Seed width max:

1 mm

Seed width mean:

1.3 mm

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Amaranthus caudatus has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betacarotene, Flavonoids, Glucosinolates, LYCOPENE, Proanthocyanidin.

Betacarotene

1. Tropical biomedicine

Flavonoids

1. Tropical biomedicine

Glucosinolates

1. Tropical biomedicine

LYCOPENE

1. Tropical biomedicine

Proanthocyanidin

1. Scientific reports

RUTIN

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Unsaturated Fatty Acids

1. Tropical biomedicine

caffeic acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

polyphenols

1. Tropical biomedicine

squalene

1. Tropical biomedicine

Activities

Amaranthus caudatus has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifungal, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antifungal

1. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine

Antioxidant

1. Scientific reports

Medicinal Uses

Amaranthus caudatus has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, cancer, candidiasis, hypercholesterolemia.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations