Amaranthaceae Amaranthus cruentus L.

Red Amaranth

Zuni - Other, Ceremonial Items

Use documented by:
Stevenson, Matilda Coxe, 1915, Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians, SI-BAE Annual Report #30, page 87

View all documented uses for Amaranthus cruentus L.

Scientific name: Amaranthus cruentus L.
USDA symbol: AMCR4 (View details at USDA PLANTS site)
Common names: Red Amaranth
Family: Amaranthaceae
Family (APG): Amaranthaceae
Native American Tribe: Zuni
Use category: Other
Use sub-category: Ceremonial Items
Notes: Feathery part of plant ground into a fine meal and used to color ceremonial bread red. The bread was carried by personators of anthropic gods and thrown by them to the populace between the dances.

RECRD: 32957 id: 2748