Grain Amaranths in the Himalayas

Periodic attempts have been made to trace the history and origin of grain amaranth by different research workers but slill very little is known. Some more information on Amaranthus hypochondriacus L., A. cruentus L. and A. caudatus L. has been added based on published work and folklore information gathered in India. There are approximately 25 species of Amaranthus available in the Asian region. Four Sanskrit names (Rahadri, Rajagiri, Rajashakini and Tandulya) are available in the old literature. The fossil records of pollen have been documented in several excavations in India from Holocene and late Pliestocene periods. Enormous genetic diversity and concentrations of the crop in the Himalayan region unlike peninsular India, its uses and prohibition in different rituals, large number of vernacular names of medicinal and culinary preparations and the amount of genetic diversity in grain amararlths as observed in Himalayas would indicate the greater likelihood of spread of the crop in India from that region in eighth century. Their direct and indirect evidences of the antiquity of the crop in India suggested that possibly grain amaranths were prevelent in south Asia from time immemorial.