Taiwanese Quinoa
Farmer Ellen Bartholomew discovered this unique quinoa in the GRIN seed bank and grew it for Bountiful Gardens about 2008. We passed it on the the folks at Adaptive Seeds, who have stewarded it ever since. Here is there description: "We mostly use the leaves as a vegetable, but the seed is also high in protein, making Taiwanese quinoa a great multi-purpose food plant. Easy to grow plants are similar to lambsquarters, with a unique pink coloration. Very heat tolerant. The magic happens when they grow over 6′ tall, producing beautiful long trailing flower heads. which make great cut flowers. Late to mature seed but the plants can be cut and brought under cover to after-ripen. C. formosanum produces smaller seeds than Andean quinoa. Said to be native plant to Taiwan and China, it is very rare in North America. Recently added to the Slow Food Ark of Taste as an endangered food plant. Formerly known as the species Chenopodium purpurascens, may be considered Chenopodium giganteum by some botanists. Aka, Djulis, Purple Goosefoot, Giant Tree Spinach." 300 seeds.