Celosia argentea

Celosia argentea var. cristata (formerly Celosia cristata), known as cockscomb, is the cristate or crested variety of the species Celosia argentea. It was likely originally native to India, where it was saved from extinction in cultivation by the religious significance attached to the variety by Indian, Burmese, and Chinese gardeners who planted it near temples. The name cockscomb is used as the flower looks like the head on a rooster (cock). The plants are resistant to most diseases, and grow equally well indoors or out, though the perfect place is one with no shade and a well-drained soil, as the plant is susceptible to fungal diseases.E. Tanne, L. Kuznetsova, J. Cohen, S. Alexandrova, A. Gera: Phytoplasmas as Causal Agents of Celosia Disease in Israel . In: HortScience . Vol. 35, No. 6, October 2000, pp. 1103-1106 The plant is mainly cultivated as an ornamental plant for its spectacular flowering and is highly appreciated by horticulturists for its distinctive inflorescence, in the form of wavy crest. The flowers can be cut and dried to make dry bouquets and are used frequently as ornamental plants indoors. Their leaves and flowers can be used as vegetables. They are often grown as food in India, Western Africa, and South America. The somatic chromosome number for the cristate variety is 2n = 36, while investigation of the typical species revealed a chromosome number of 2n = 72.Grant, William F. 1954. A cytological study of Celosia argentea, C. argentea var. cristata, and their hybrids. Botanical Gazette, 115(4): 323-336.

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