BUCKWHEAT AND ITS ALLIES. 109 



rains ; the crop is ripe from October to February ; the green leaves 

 are used as a fresh vegetable. One plant will produce 1 00,000 

 seeds. 



BENGAL AMARANTH. 



Amarantus gangeticiis, L. 



Synonyms A. tricolor (L.) ; A. tristis (L.); A. melancholicus (L.) ; A. lanceolatus 

 (Roxb.); A. oleraceus (Roxb.); A. polygamus (Roxb.); A. lividus (Roxb.); 

 A. amboinicus (Herb. Ham. in Wall. Cat.) ; A. inamoenus (Willd.). 



Hind. Rukta-shaka, Lab-shak. Ben*. Lalsag, dengiid. 



An erect, stout, handsome species, generally 2 to 3 feet high ; 

 leaves 2 to 5 inches, long-petioled, ovate-oblong, or lanceolate 

 obtuse, but very variable ; seed uVth inch in diameter, lenticular 

 and black. 



Cultivated and in cultivated ground throughout India and 

 Ceylon ; common in Bengal. 



COMPOSITION OF AMARANTUS GANGETICUS (HUSKED SEEDS), C. 



In 100 parts. In I Ib. 



Water ... ... ... i2'i ... i oz. 410 grs. 



Albuminoids ... ... 14^5 ... 2 140 



Starch 6r8 ... 9 ,, 388 ,. 



Oil... ... 6-3 ... i 3 



Fibre ... ... ... 2 '6 ... o 182 ,, 



Ash ... ... ... 2'6 ... o 182 



The nutrient-ratio is here i : SJ4> an d the nutrient-value nearly 

 91. The analysis shows that we have in these seeds a food 

 in which the proportions, not merely of albuminoids to total 

 starch plus the starch-equivalent of the oil, but also of the oil 

 itself, are very nearly those of an ideal 'or standard ratio. The 

 Amaranth last described is almost identical with this species 

 in this important respect. 



Chenopodium album, L. 



Punjab Irr, Bathua, Jausag, Lunak, Mustakh, Bajar banj, Ratta, Siriari, Taku, 



Gaddi-Sinugar. 

 Laddkh Em. 



This erect herb has rhomb-ovate, toothed, somewhat powdery 

 leaves ; the flowers are small and green, the seeds lenticular. 



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