Amaranthus

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Amaranthaceae

• Scientific Name

  Amaranthus

• Description

  Genus Description - Monoecious or dioecious; fls small, each subtended by bracts and bracteoles; cal of 1–5 scarious or membranous sep separate to the base, often aristate, or wanting from the pistillate fls; stamens 1–5, with short filament and linear-oblong anther; ovary short and broad, compressed; style short or virtually none; stigmas (2)3(5), slender, pubescent; ovule l; fr a thin-walled to coriaceous utricle, indehiscent or bursting irregularly, or commonly circumscissile at the middle, crowned by the persistent stigmas; seed flattened or lenticular, round to obovate; prostrate to erect annuals, usually much branched, with alternate, petiolate, entire or sinuate lvs; fls in small axillary clusters, or aggregated into axillary or terminal, simple or panicled spike-like thyrses. 50, widespread. (Acnida) Spp. 8–13 are ± connected by intermediates of hybrid origin.

• Common Names

  amaranth