CELOSIA IS A SMALL GENUS OF EDIBLE AND ORNAMENTAL PLANTS IN TEH AMARANTH FAMILY, AMARANTHACEAE. THE GENERIC NAME IS DERIVED FROM THE ANCIENT GREEK WORD κήλεος, MEANING "BURNING," AND REFERS TO THE FLAME-LIKE FLOWER HEADS. SPECIES ARE COMMONLY KNOWN AS WOOLFLOWERS, OR IS THE FLOWER HEADS ARE CRESTED BY FASCIATION, COCKSCOMBS. THE PLANTS ARE WELL KNOWN IN EAST AFRICA'S HIGHLANDS AND ARE USED UNDER THEIR SWAIHILI NAME, MFUNGU.
