Amaranthus hypochondriacus. Amaranth.

Nat. Ord. — Amaranthaceae. Sex. Syst. — Monoecia Pentandria.

The Leaves.

Description. — Amaranthus Hypochondriacus is an annual herb, with a stout, upright stem, and growing from three to four feet high. The leaves are oblong, lanceolate, mucronate, green with a red-purple spot, or tinged with purple ; flowers clustered in racemes, and of a bright-red purple, as well as the awl-shaped bracts. Racemes pentandrous, compound, erect, compact. Stamens five. The whole plant is dark-red, or reddish-purple, with long plume-like clusters.

History. — This plant, also known by the names of Princes' Feather, Lovely Bleeding, Red Cocks-comb, etc., is a native of the Middle States, and is cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens. It bears deep bright-red flowers in August. The leaves, which are the parts used, are also red, and yield their virtues to water.

Properties and Uses. — Amaranth is astringent. The decoction drank freely is highly recommended in severe menorrhagia, and has also been found beneficial in diarrhea, dysentery, and hemorrhage from the bowels. It has likewise been used as a local application in ulceration of the mouth and throat, in leucorrhea, and as a wash to foul, indolent ulcers.

The American Eclectic Dispensatory, 1854, was written by John King, M. D.