Many of us have heard the name of the grass. quinoa, but not everyone knows what kind of plant it is. Quinoa can be a single or perennial shrub, dwarf shrub or grass. The number of species of quinoa is more than 100. The height of the plant varies from 20 cm to 1.8 m, the shoots are thick or thin, depending on the species. The sheet plates are whole, elongated, arranged alternately. Grass can have a red, yellow, green color. The trunk and sheets are covered with silvery fibers. Quinoa is a monoecious plant, i.e., male and female flowers are placed on the same plant. Seeds of black color are located in the bracts.
Did you know? Quinoa has edible species. The most popular type of garden quinoa in cooking.
In most cases, quinoa is a weed. Growth area - wastelands, ravines, fields, gardens, coast. The grass is not only wild, but also cultivated as a cultivated plant. Swan spread all over the globe. In Australia and the United States grows the most plant species suitable for use in gastronomy. Dry quinoa grass is used in cooking as a seasoning or in horticulture as a fertilizer saturated with nitrogen. Green leaves are used for making cutlets, soups, salads, pancakes.
Important! Young shoots and leaves contain protein, rutin, vitamins C and PP, mineral substances.
Due to its saturation with beneficial substances, quinoa has found wide use in traditional medicine.
Garden quinoa
Garden quinoa - an annual grass that has a straight, faceted, branched trunk height from 60 to 180 cm. The leaves are different in shape, elongated, with whole or jagged edges, thin, sour taste. The color of the leaves is emerald or red-maroon. The lower part of the leaf plate has a milky hue. Small flowers of green or red color form paniculate or spikelet inflorescences. Seeds are black or olive-brown. Flowering occurs in June - August. Originally a garden quinoa from Central Europe. Garden quinoa is grown as a vegetable or ornamental plant. Like weed, it is common everywhere. The leaves and stems of the still not flowered grass contain many useful and nutrients.
Wild quinoa
Wild quinoa - one year old, from 3 to 70 centimeters high. The barrel of the quinoa can be both upright and creeping, branched from the base. Shoots horizontal or upward. Long branches covers film raid. The leaves are elongated or triangular, egg-shaped, with notches along the edges, covered with a ragged peeling film. The color of the leaves is gray-green, sometimes changing to red. Flowers form little-flown tangles that are located in the leaf sinuses. Low-flowed tangles form spike-paniculate inflorescences. Looks like a wild quinoa, you can see in the photo below.
Did you know? Salt absorbed by the plant from the soil accumulates in the leaf plates, so the grass can be used to clean the soil from excess salts.
Tartan quinoa
Tatar quinoa is a one-year-old, growing from 10 cm to one meter. The trunk of the grass can be both upright and lying. The leaves are elongate, oval, narrow, with notches along the edges. The tips of the leaves are sharp, the leaf plate is covered with villi. You can see Tatar quinoa on the photo below. Flowering - June - October. Flowers form spikelet inflorescences, the lower part of which is bordered with foliage. The seeds are round, brown in color, shiny. The plant is weed, but it is used as food and feed. Natural habitat - steppe, vineyards, gardens.
Quinoa
Head quinoa - an annual grass from 20 to 60 cm high. The stem of the plant, creeping, changes its color from green to red by the end of summer. The leaves are triangular or oval, with notches or without them along the edges. The flowering period is July - August. Small green flowers form small-flowered balls. In female flowers perianth is absent.
Quinoa spear
Spear quinoa refers to annual plants. The grass reaches a height of 20-100 cm. The trunk is bare, branched. The leaves are horizontally spaced, monochromatic at the bottom and at the top, green or silver-mealy color. The leaves are attached to the stalk opposite each other. The form of the leaflet may be triangular-spear-shaped, lanceolate with notches or blades pointing upwards. The flowers are collected in small glomeruli, which, in turn, form intermittent spike-paniculate inflorescences. Seeds are vertical, ripen in September. The flowering period - June - August. Spear-shaped quinoa is used in cooking fresh, boiled, pickled, fermented.
Important! The seeds of certain types of quinoa, eaten, can cause hallucinations.
Quinoa elongated
Quinoa elongated is a plant reaching a height of 20-110 cm. The leaves of the plant are green in color, narrow triangular oblong, elliptical or oval. Flowers of green color form small glomerular inflorescences. The flowering period is June - July.
Coastal quinoa
The coastal quinoa grows to 70 cm. The trunk is bare, upright, branched with upward-directed shoots. Leaves of green color, oval or linear-oval, narrowed to the base. The tips of the leaves are sharp, the edges are even, rarely with notches. The flowers form elongated spikelet inflorescences, which, in turn, form paniculate inflorescences. The flowering period is July - August. Seeds brown color, bare, flattened. Coastal quinoa is eaten, replacing spinach. Where coastal quinoa grows, it is easy to guess from the name. Habitat - sea sandy beaches. 
Quinoa
Spreading quinoa has the following description. The height of the grass is 30-150 cm. The trunk is upright, faceted, branched. Quinoa is an annual plant. The root system is pivotal. The bottom row of sheets of uneven rhombic or spear-shaped. Leaflets located on the stems alternately, fastened with petioles, with even or toothed sides, elongated, green color. The leaves of the branches are oval, narrowed, looking upwards. Green flowers form spikelet inflorescences. The flowering period - June - July. Seeds are small, flattened, black color. Spreading quinoa is not only fodder, but also a food plant.
Arrow quinoa
Arrow quinoa grows up to one and a half meters. The grass is one year old, the trunk is erect, faceted or cylindrical, branched. The top of the leaves is green, and the bottom has a silvery-white bloom. Large leaflets with notches. Depending on the tier, the shape of the leaves is different: triangular-elongated with a sharp tip, heart-shaped; oval with a blunt end and smooth sides. Green flowers form a spike inflorescence, which, in turn, forms a cone-shaped paniculate inflorescence. The flowering period is July - August. Apply as fodder and food plant.
