Amaranthaceae
Amaranthaceae
Amaranthaceae (pronounced: am-uh-ran-thuh-see-ee) is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the amaranth family. It is a cosmopolitan family of herbs, with some shrubs, trees, and vines.
Etymology
The name Amaranthaceae is derived from the type genus Amaranthus, which is a Greek word amarantos meaning 'unfading'. The family name was first used by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in 1789.
Description
Members of the Amaranthaceae family are characterized by their simple leaves and small, non-aromatic flowers. The flowers are often in dense spikes or panicles. The fruit is usually a utricle, which is a small, bladder-like, thin-walled fruit with a single seed.
Genera
The Amaranthaceae family includes about 180 genera and more than 2,500 species. Some of the notable genera include Amaranthus, Celosia, Chenopodium, Spinacia, and Beta.
Distribution and Habitat
Amaranthaceae is distributed worldwide from the tropics to the cool temperate regions. They are found in a wide variety of habitats, including deserts, alpine regions, wetlands, and forests.
Economic Importance
Several species in the Amaranthaceae family are of economic importance as food crops, ornamental plants, and weeds. For example, Amaranthus species are used as a leaf vegetable and a pseudo-cereal in many parts of the world.
Related Terms
- Amaranthus: A genus of annual or short-lived perennial plants in the family Amaranthaceae.
- Celosia: A small genus of edible and ornamental plants in the amaranth family.
- Chenopodium: A genus of numerous species of perennial or annual herbaceous flowering plants known as the goosefoots.
- Spinacia: A genus of flowering plants in the amaranth family, known for the vegetable spinach (Spinacia oleracea).
- Beta: A genus in the family Amaranthaceae, with the most known species being the beetroot (Beta vulgaris).
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Amaranthaceae
- Wikipedia's article - Amaranthaceae
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