Celosia argentea var. cristata, known as cockscomb, is the cristate or crested variety of the species Celosia argentea. It was likely originally native to India, where it was saved from extinction in cultivation by the religious significance and superstitions attached to the variety by Indian, Burmese, and Chinese gardeners who planted it near temples. The somatic chromosome number for the cristate variety is 2n = 36, while investigation of the typical species revealed a chromosome number of 2n = 72.