A stout, erect, smooth, branched herb, 0.4 to 1 m high. Stems with slender axillary spines. The presence of spines differentiate it from kolitis (Amaranthus viridis).

Leaves: glabrous, long-petioled, oblong to oblong ovate, or elliptic-lanceolate, 4 to 10 cm long, obtuse, alternate.The dried leaves contain (per 100g) 267 – 276 calories, 20 – 34.4% protein, 2 – 4.5% fat, 45 – 54% carbohydrate, 9.8 – 10.4% fibre, 16.6 – 24% ash, 1795 – 5333mg calcium, 333 – 460mg phosphorus, 13.5 – 152.7mg iron, 13 – 37mg sodium, 337 – 3528mg potassium, 27.9 – 40.8mg betacarotene equivalent, 0.06mg thiamine, 2.02mg riboflavin, 7.7 – 8.6mg niacin and 503mg ascorbic acid.

Flowers: very numerous, stalkless, green or greening-white, about 1 mm long and born in dense, axillary clusters and in elongated terminal axillary spikes. Sepals, 5 or 1-3, ovate to linear, often aristate. Petals, scarious. Bracts, linear, bristle-pointed and as long as the sepals or longer.

Fruits: utricles, wrinkled, nearly as long as the sepals.
Seeds, minute, black and shining.Seed – cooked. Very small, about 1mm in diameter, but easy to harvest and very nutritious. The seed can be cooked whole, and becomes very gelatinous like this, but it is rather difficult to crush all of the small seeds in the mouth and thus some of the seed will pass right through the digestive system without being assimilated,

Parts utilized:

· Roots, stems and leaves.

· Harvest the root at any time of the year.

· Wash thoroughly, cut into pieces and sun-dry.

· The plant can be eaten as a vegetable.

Characteristics and Pharmacological Effects:
· Slightly sweet-tasting, mildly refrigerant in nature. A good expectorant. Antifebrile, an effective astringent especially in stopping liquid bowels.

· Locally, it has been reported that a decoction of the root can cure gonorrhea and relieve one’s breathing from acute bronchitis.

Uses:

Nutritional

Plant , especially the young leaves, can be used as vegetable, as a spinach substitute.

Folkloric

· Decoction of roots has been used for treatment of gonorrhea.

· Bacillary dysentery, diarrhea, acute and chronic gastroenteritis, urinary tract inflammation.

· Fever, bronchitis.

· Lactation.

· Bruised leaves for skin eczema.

· Snake bites.

· Bleeding in piles.

· Dosage: Use 30 to 60 gms of dried material or 60 to 120 gms of fresh material, as infusion or decoction. For external application, employ decoction of fresh material as wash for ulcers and sores. Decoction also used as gargle for sore throat.

· Bleeding hemorrhoids: Pigweed can be combined with Verbena officinalis and boiled into decoction. To the decoction, add a small amount of vinegar and drink. Bleeding should cease the following day.

· All amaranths are recommended for coughs.

· Contraindicated during pregnancy.


Other Uses:

- The seed is used as a poultice for broken bones.

- The plant is astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, emollient, febrifuge and galactogogue.

- It is used internally in the treatment of internal bleeding, diarrhoea and excessive menstruation.

- Externally, it is used to treat ulcerated mouths, vaginal discharges, nosebleeds and wounds.

- The root is emmenagogue and galactogogue. A paste of the root is used in the treatment of menorrhagia, gonorrhoea, eczema and colic. It helps to remove pus from boils. The juice of the root is used in Nepal to treat fevers, urinary troubles, diarrhoea and dysentery. It is also used, often combind with the root juice of Dichrophela integra and Rubus ellipticus, to treat stomach disorders and, on its own, to treat indigestion and vomiting that occur after eating unusual foods

- Yellow and green dyes can be obtained from the whole plant. A red pigment obtained from the plant (the report does not specify which part of the plant) is used as a colouring in foods and medicines.

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