Habit: Celosia argentea grows as an herbaceous annual or perennial, to 2 m in height (usually shorter). The mostly glabrous leaves are arranged alternately, linear to lanceolate to ovate, with an entire margin and acuminate/acute leaf apex.
The complete, perfect, zygomorphic flowers are arranged in terminal and axillary spikes. The flowers are subtended by 3-4 leaf like bracts. The perianth has 5 pink/purple unfused tepals that lighten in color as they age. There are 5, fused at the base, stamens. There is a superior ovary with a single locule and numerous ovules. The fruit is a capsule at maturity.
Habitat: Celosia argentea grows in Human Altered environments (yards, gardens, farms).
Distribution: Celosia argentea is NOT native to the Lucayan Archipelago but occurs in the northern island groupings. It is native to Africa.
Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Celosia argentea is not used medicinally in the Bahamas.
It is also grown ornamentally for its showy pink/purple/red/maroon inflorescences and the leaves and flowers are edible.
Celosia argentea has become an invasive species in parts of Asia.