i 
G E L 
) * 
CEL 0 S 1 A. Lin, Gen. Plant. 255. Amaranthus. 
Tdurn. Inft. R. H. 2 34. tab. 118. Amaranth. 
The Characters are. 
The cmpalement is permanent, and compofed of three dry 
coloured leaves. c The flower hath five eredt Jharp-pointed 
petals , which are permanent , ftijfi, and floaped like a 
flower-cup. It hath a flmall netlarium joined to the border 
of the germen, to which adhere the jive ftamina , which 
are terminated by turning fummits. 'The globular germen 
fipports an upright flyle , which is as long as the ftamina , 
crowned with a Jingle Jligma. The empalement afterward 
becomes a globular capflide with one cell opening horizon- 
tally, containing romdiflo feeds. 
This genus of plants is ranged in die fir ft fection of 
Linnaeus’s fifth- clafs, intitled Pentandria Monogynia, 
the flower having five ftamina and one ftyle. 
The Species are, 
1 . Celosia ( Margaritaced ) folds ovatis ftipulis falcatis, 
pedunculis angulatis, fpicis fcariofis. Lin. Sp. Plant. 
297. Celofia with oval leaves, a faulchion- floaped ftipula, 
md a rough fpike. Amaranthus fpica albefcente habi- 
tiore. Martyn. Cent. 1. p. 7. 
2. Celosia '( Criftata ) foliis lanceolato-ovatis recurvis 
fubundatis pedunculis angulatis, fpicis oblongis crif- 
tatis. Lin. Sp. 297. Celofia with oval ' fpear -floaped leaves, 
angular foot-ftalks, and oblong crefted fpikes of flowers. 
Amaranthus criftatus. Camer. Epit. 792. Crefted 
Amaranth, commonly called Cockfcomb. 
3. Celosia ( Pardculata ) foliis lanceolato-ovatis, pani- 
cula diffufa filiformi. Flor. Virg. 144. Celofia with 
oval fpear-Jhaped leaves, and a fender diflfufed panicle. 
Amaranthus panicula flavicante gracili holofericea. 
Sloan. Hift. 1. p. 142. tab. 90. 
4. Celosia {Coccinea ) foliis ovatis ftridtis inauriculatis, 
caule fulcato, fpicis multiplicibus criftatis. Lin. Sp. 
297. Celofla with oval leaves , a furrowed ftalk , and 
many crefted fpikes of flowers. Amaranthus panicula 
fpeciofa criftata^ C. B. P. 121. 
5. Celosia ( Caftrenfts ) foliis lanceolato-ovatis lineatis 
acuminatiffimis, ftipulis falcatis, fpicis criftatis. Lin. 
Sp. 297. Celofia with oval, linear , fpear -floaped, acute- 
pointed leaves , and crefted fpikes of flowers. Amaranthus 
vulgaris. Rumph. Amb. 5. p. 236. 
6 . Celosia {Lanata ) foliis lanceolatis tomentofis obtufis, 
fpicis confertis, ftaminibus lanatis. Flor. Zeyl. 102. 
Celofia with fpear-Jhaped, obtufe , woolly leaves, and many 
(pikes of flowers having downy ftamina. 
The firft fort here mentioned, grows naturally in 
America, from whence I have frequently received 
the feeds. This rifes with an upright ftalk about two 
feet high, garnifhed with oval leaves ending in points, 
of a pale colour ; thofe on the lower part being four 
or five inches long, and one and a half broad in the' 
middle, but they diminifh gradually in their fize up- 
ward. Toward the upper part of the ftalk, there are 
a few fide branches fent out which ftand erect ; each 
of which is terminated by a fiender fpike of flowers, 
and the principal ftalk is terminated by one which 
is much larger-, this is two or three inches long, and 
about as duck as a man’s middle finger, the whole 
fpike being of a filvery colour. But there is a variety 
of this with fiender pyramidal fpikes, intermixed 
with red toward the top, the feeds of which I re- 
ceived from Dr. Linnaeus, by the above title ; but I 
am inclinable to think it is different from that which 
was figured by Dr. Martyn in his Decades of rare 
plants, which I have cultivated many years in the 
Chelfea garden, and have never found it to vary. 
The fpike of this is much thicker than that of Lin- 
nmus’s, and of equal fize the whole length ; whereas 
his diminifnes almoft to a point at the top, and the 
colours of both are very different. This fort is an- 
nual like the other Amaranths, and requires the fame 
culture. 
The fecond fort is well known by its common ap- 
pellation of Cockfcomb, which was given to it from 
the form of its crefted head of flowers refembling a 
Cockfcomb ; of this there are many varieties, which 
differ in their form, magnitude, and colours ; but as 
they vary from feeds, they are not enumerated as 
6 
G E-L 
diftmfi fpecies. I have raifed great varieties ofdiefe 
from feeds which came from China, and other coun- 
tries, but have generally found them alter in a few 
years, notwithftanding great care has been taken in 
the having of their feeds : the principal colours of 
their heads are red, purple, yellow, and white ; but 
I have had feme, whole heads have been variegated 
with two or three colours. I alfo raifed feme from 
feeds which I received from Perfia, whole heads 
were divided like a plume of feathers, which were 
of a beautiful fcarlet colour, but thefe in a few 
years degenerated : therefore I ftiall include all the 
different varieties of Cockfcomb, under this general 
title. 
The feeds of the third fort were fent me from Ja- 
maica by the late Dr. Houftoun. This grows na- 
turally in moft of the Sugar Ifiands. It rifes with a 
weak ftalk near four feet high, garnilhed with oblong 
pointed leaves, which ftand oppofite at each joint. 
The flowers come out in loofe panicles from the fide 
of the ftalks, and alfo at the end of the branches : 
thefe are divided into a great number of very fiender 
fpikes, which are of a pale yellow, finning with a 
glofs like filk. The plants of this periihed in the 
autumn, without perfecting their feeds. 
The fourth fort I received from China this hath a 
furrowed ftalk, which rifes three or four feet high, 
‘ garnilhed with oval leaves which are not eared at their 
bafe the ftalk is terminated by feveral fpikes of 
flowers which are varioufiy formed, fome being 
crefted, others are plumed like feathers, of a bright 
fcarlet colour, fo make a good appearance ; but the 
feeds of this when carefully laved, are apt, to dege- 
nerate. 
The fifth fort is of humbler growth, the leaves are 
oval, fpear-lhaped, ending in very acute points ; the 
branches proceed from the wings of the leaves, al- 
moft the length of the ftalk, and are terminated by 
fiender fpikes of flowers of no great beauty, therefore 
the plant is preferved as a variety in the botanic 
gardens. 
The fixth fort grows naturally in Ceylon; it rifes with 
a very white woolly ftalk from two to three feet 
high, garnilhed with obtufe, fpear-lhaped, woolly 
leaves ; from the upper part of the ftalk come out 
two or three fiender fide branches, which (as alfo the 
principal ftalk) are terminated by woolly fpikes of 
flowers : thefe flowers are fo clofely wrapped up in 
their woolly empalements, as to be fcarce vifible to 
the naked eye, fo they make no appearance ; but 
the extreme whitenefs of the ftalk, leaves, and fpikes, 
make a pretty variety among other tender plants 
during their continuance. 
This plant is tender; the feeds Ihould be fown in the 
fpring upon a hot-bed, and the plants Ihould be 
treated in the fame way as is directed for the Cockf- 
combs ; but when the plants are fully grown, they 
Ihould be removed into an airy glafs-cafe, where they 
may be fereened from cold and wet, but have free 
air admitted to them in warm weather, otherwife 
they will not perfeft their feeds in this country. 
In order to have large fine Amaranths, great care 
Ihould be taken in the choice of the feeds ; for if they 
are not carefully colleded, the whole expence and 
trouble of railing them will be loft. When you are 
provided with good feeds, they muft be fown on a 
hot-bed (which Ihould have been prepared a -few 
days before, that the violent heat may be abated) 
about the beginning of March ; and in about a tort- 
night’s time (if the bed is in good temper) the plants 
will rife ; but as they are tender when they firft ap- 
pear, they require great care for a few days till 
they get ftrength ; firft, in giving them a due pro- 
portion of air, to prevent their drawing up weak ; 
and next to keep them from too great moifture, for 
a fin all fhare of moifture will caufe their tender items 
to rot : in fowing the feeds, there ihould be care 
taken not to put them too clofe, for when the plants 
come up in clufters, they frequently fpoil. each other 
for want of room to grow : in a fortnight or three 
weeks 
