The Cockscomb (Celosia cristata L.) is a tropical plant from the Amaranth family (Amaranthaceae) widely spread throughout tropical countries in Asia, especially South East Asia, Africa and Central- and South America. Finally the origin of this plant is unclear. While nowadays cockscomb (Celosia cristata) flowers are mostly used for exotic flower decorations or flower bouquettes, in ancient times parts of the plant, flowers, leaves, roots and seeds has been used in nature medicine to treat urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, vaginal discharge, bloody urine and bleeding hemorrhoids.

In Africa Cockscomb (Celosia cristata) is used to banish weeds from grain field and the pest-resistant plant (leaves and flowers) is used as a vegetable, because of a bigger crop yield than amaranth. There are also many, even multi-coloured, hybrids of the Cockscomb (Celosia cristata) around. The tropical plant is easy to grow from seeds and is hardy as well.

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Image: Cockscomb (Celosia cristata)

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