So it appears that the Hindu god Ganesh may not been responsible for the elephant-like growth of this Queen’s man’s plant after all. Although experts from the Queens Botanical Garden claim they’ve “never seen an amaranth take an elephant-like shape,” we learn, via this commenter, of the not so elusive Amaranthus gangeticus, that is specifically characterized by its: “[H]uge purple heads with one trunk-like appendage that looks like an elephant head!” As for the plant’s healing abilities, science can offer up a good explanation for that too: “In Bangladesh, it has been used as a leafy vegetable. Scientific study suggests that it inhibits calcium retention.” The plant also contains “high level of antioxidants.” But fear not devotees, no need to feel embarrassed, here’s a slideshow of equally ‘religulous’ sightings.
|Photo: Taggart for News|