Alegria

Inflorescence a spike, at least 4 vertical spikes approximately 1/2 the inflorescence length. Flowers marbled red and blond; mostly red. Stem amaranthine striped with pink or red base. Petiole mostly green; some have light amaranthine pigmentation. Blade, elliptic, most are solid green; a few have light amaranthine veins. Moderately branching, lodging. Used as a grain for popping and when mixed with honey, creates a Mexican confection after which it is named. Originally collected in Mexico in 1979 by Native Seeds/SEARCH of Tucson, Arizona. The Peaceable Kingdom School (TX PE K, a biodynamic gardening program in Washington of the Brazos, Texas), purchased this variety from Native Seeds/SEARCH in 1993 and later donated a seed sample to SSE in the mid 1990s. SSE Accession # 100089