Celosia L.

	Celosia argentea var. cristata (Cristata group): stem

cockscomb, flamingo flower

cockscomb

Celosia argentea L. var. cristata (L.) Kuntze (=C. cristata L.¹)

C. plumosa hort.¹

(Cut flowers offered as C. spicata (Thouars) Spreng. are actually C. argentea var. cristata.)

Tropics.

Alternate, entire, narrowly to broadly lanceolate leaves; dense, spike-like or fan-like terminal clusters of small (usually less than 1 cm long) flowers; 5 tepaloid perianth segments subtended by 3 bracts; bracts and perianth segments similar in consistency and color; filaments joined below, forming a tube around style.

Cultivar groups:

Cristata (cockscomb; most common): fused branches form dense, contorted, distinctive, brain-like inflorescences, in fan-like or globose forms; flowers clustered on flat part of fan and colorless; fans 7-25 cm wide;

Plumosa: erect, large, branched, feathery plumes ca. 20-30 cm long;

Spicata (wheat celosia): short, wheatlike spikes ca. 10-20 cm long, with often long, silvery flowers; and

Childsii group (less often seen): globose inflorescences. Inflorescences red, orange, golden, yellow, scarlet, and purple; foliage in different colors.

Amaranthus upright type

Celosia (Plumosa or Spicata groups) and Amaranthus upright cultivars may be confused. Celosia flowers are perfect and filaments are joined below to form a tube around the style. Amaranthus flowers are unisexual and the filaments are distinct.

Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe.