Description

Celosia argentea, silver cockscomb or plumed celosia, is an erect annual herb of the family Amaranthaceae, native to tropical Asia and Africa and now naturalised pantropically as a garden ornamental and agricultural weed. The plant produces characteristic feathery or plume-like inflorescences of silvery-white or pink-purple flowers. The small, shiny, black seeds are traded in Indian herbal markets as Sirwali. In classical Ayurvedic literature, Celosia-related plants (Chharchita or Mayurasikha in some regional texts) are documented for preparations associated with eye health, skin conditions, and intestinal conditions. Ethnobotanical surveys across Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu document the use of the leaves as a pot herb and the seeds in folk medicinal preparations for fever and skin-related conditions. The genus is also an important leafy vegetable across West African culinary traditions.