Chia
Chia originates from central and southern Mexico and Guatemala. It is grown for its seeds, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. In the past it was probably used as a staple food in the region where it was cultivated.
Names
Scientific
Salvia hispanica
English
Chia
Dutch
Chia
German
Mexikanische Chia
Taxonomy
Order
Lamiales
Family
Lamiaceae
Genus
Salvia
Species
Salvia hispanica (Chia)
Basic information and facts
Origin:
Southern Mexico and Guatemala
Distribution:
Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, USA, etc.
Annual, biennial, or perennial:
Chia is an annual herb.
Flowers:
Chia has purple or white flowers which grow in clusters in a spike at the end of the stems.
Leaves:
Opposite leaves of 4–8 cm length and 3–5 cm width.
Seeds:
Chia seeds are small with an oval shape and a diameter of about 1 mm. The seeds are mottle-colored, with brown, gray, black and white.
Climate and weather:
Tropical and sub-tropical.
Height:
A herb of up to 1.75 m tall.
Spacing:
About 75 cm.
Propagation:
Grown from seeds.
Insect pests:
No major pests.
Diseases:
No major diseases
Uses:
Seeds are edible and are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Seeds are also used to make decorations, for example by growing them on a small sculpture and then watering them so that the seeds sprout, which gives the sculpture an interesting living surface.
Crop categories
Arid crops
Edible seeds
Mediterranean crops
Minor crops
Subtropical crops
Pictures
Chia seeds