Puffed amaranth BIO. Amaranth is a plant that has several species, native to Central America, where it was already cultivated by pre-Columbian civilizations. The genus Amaranthus includes about 60 species, but only 3 are considered good seed producers: the Caudatus, the Cruentus and the Hypochondriacus. [1] Its diffusion in the world is varied: traces of it are found in Europe (from the 18th century, used as an ornamental plant), in Africa (from the 19th century, cultivated as a vegetable) and in Asia (from the 19th century, as a cereal), even if in these places it never reached the importance it had in the countries of origin.