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Celosia argentea

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-CoreEudicot Order: Caryophyllales Family: Amaranthaceae Genus: Celosia

cock's comb, foxtail amaranth

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Herbs, annual.

Stems: Stems erect, to 1 m, glabrous.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades unlobed, ovate, lanceolate, or nearly linear, 8–15 × 1–6 cm. Apex long-acuminate. Base tapering. Margins entire to wavy. Petioles 1–3 cm. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences dense cylindric or ovoid spikes, units 13–20 mm diameter. Flowers bisexual (perfect), hypogynous. Calyx silvery white or pinkish, 3-veined, 6–8 mm, scarious, translucent. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens 5; filaments connate basally into cups; anthers 4-locular; pseudostaminodes absent. Ovary superior; styles elongate, 4 mm, indurate and exserted at maturity; stigmas 3.

Fruit: Utricles 4 mm. Seeds 3–8; 1.5 mm diam.; smooth; shiny.

Ploidy: 2n = 72

Habitat: Waste places; weedy areas.

Elevation Range: 0–1,400 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Only found in cultivation
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 205 (1753)

Other References

Oppenheimer 2003:5 (NEWNAT/H, DESCR); Staples & Herbst 2005:101 (DESCR); Starr & Starr 2022a:13 (WM)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Celosia argentea West Maui, Lahaina District, Lahaina, Kupuohi St Volunteer in burned landscaped area Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 102402 Maui BISH 2024-10-30
2 Celosia argentea West Maui, Lahaina District, Kahana, north side of Pohakukaanapali Gulch. Volunteer in yard. Previously cultivated two houses away, where it also volunteers after significant rain events. Preserved_Specimen Erect, unbranched annual shrubs. Flowers purple and leaves purple tinged. Oppenheimer, H.L. 21121 Maui BISH 2011-02-26
3 Celosia argentea Iao Stream, near close to stream, along margins. Many here scattered by the stream. With Buddleia asiatica and Amaranthus spinosus Preserved_Specimen Naturalized. Lowland stream scrub Forest, F. 20110301 Maui BISH 2020-11-03
4 Celosia argentea Aiea, 98-851 Iliee St., residence of William and Peggy Jones In partial shade. Preserved_Specimen Subshrub 60 cm tall w/branches ascending or erect; flowers magenta, odorless (morning). Lau, J. 2027 Oahu BISH 1986-02-24
5 Celosia argentea Honolulu; Purchased at Kilgo's Nursery; Sand Island Rd Preserved_Specimen Rooted cutting 6 tall; infl. scarlet, plumose. Staples, G.W. 910 Oahu BISH 1994-02-11
6 Celosia argentea Koloa District, Poipu. National Botanical Garden Visitor's Center. Cultivated plants in bedding display Preserved_Specimen Erect herb of 4 ft.; stems pale green with dark streaks; leaves dull medium green above, dull grey green below; bracts dark violet fading straw coloured. Flynn, T.W. 6737 Kauai BISH 2000-09-12
7 Celosia argentea Honolulu; Purchased at Star Market Garden Center, King St. at University Ave. for $0.99 Preserved_Specimen Rooted cutting 6 tall; crest red, undulated. Staples, G.W. 937 Oahu BISH 1994-06-20
8 Celosia argentea Honolulu; 42 Coelho Way Preserved_Specimen 3 inflor.; 1 large purple, 2 small yellow. Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1939-10-10
9 Celosia argentea Honolulu; 42 Coelho Way Preserved_Specimen Flwr head, stalk, petioles, leaf veins rose-purple. Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1954-08-25
10 Celosia argentea Honolulu; 42 Coelho Way Preserved_Specimen Flwr head, stalk, petioles, leaf veins rose-purple. Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1954-08-25
11 Celosia argentea Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen (Not on sheet) Oahu BISH 1986-02-24
12 Celosia argentea Honolulu, Waikahalulu Ln off of School St. sunny area along road, dry soil Preserved_Specimen Flowers purple when fresh and bleaching white in the sun Faccenda, K. 1991 Oahu BISH 2021-06-12
13 Celosia argentea S Hilo District, Waiakea Stream In alien-dominated, rocky stream bed. Preserved_Specimen Sparingly branched shrubs to 1m ht; leaves fleshy, purple. Oppenheimer, H.L. 80105 Hawaii BISH 2001-08-02
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