The striking amaranth flower has a bag placed over its head to prevent it spilling its seed upon the ground. Mark 4:26
Amaranth is a plant grown for its seeds or for its leaves. The seeds of some varieties can be popped for use as a popcorn like snack, the leaves can be used as a substitute for spinach.
This species is grown for its leaves which have a lemon like flavour when cooked. That is a sign of the high oxalic acid content (like most spinach-like plants) which can be removed by blanching before putting into the dish.
This year I am collecting the seeds from the amaranth by bagging the flowers before the seeds are shed. I know these flowers are close to mature because small white flecks are beginning to appear on the flower head.
- I start by placing a rubber band over the flower head below the point where I want to close the bag to capture the seed.
- You can just make out the rubber band in the picture that shows the stem with some leaves clumped together. I then place the bag over the flower and move the rubber band up to close the bag over the flower.
- In this case you can see that I have used the handles of the bag to tighten the rubber band and form a closer seal.
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