THE AMARANTH FAMILY (Amaranthaceae)
Amaranthaceae is a family of flowering plants are the Amaranth family, contains about 160 genera and 2,400 species. Most of these species are herbs or subshrubs; very few are trees or climbers. This is a widespread and cosmopolitan family found mostly in subtropical and tropical regions, although many species belong in cool temperate regions.
Some species, such as spinach (Spinacia oleracea) or forms of beet (Beta vulgaris) (beetroot, chard), are used as vegetables, others as fodder beet (Mangelwurzel) and sugar beet. The seeds of Amaranthus, Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and Kañiwa (Chenopodium pallidicaule) are edible and used as pseudocereals. Several species are used as a source of soda ash (used in glass production). Others are popular garden ornamental plants, though some are considered weeds and many may cause pollen allergies.
The leaves are mostly alternate, sometimes opposite. Their shape is extremely variable, with entire or toothed margins. In some species, the leaves are reduced to minute scales.
The flowers are solitary or aggregated in clusters or spikes, typically bisexual and radially symmetrical. Flowers usually have 5 (rarely less or up to 8) tepals, often joined. Many species tend to have small insignigicant flowers, often greenish, brownish or very much reduced, though the whole cluster may be clearly noticeable.
(source: Wikipedia)
This is a ‘ruderal’ species, a pioneer plant, amongst the first to re-colonise areas of disturbed and denuded ground. It is annual, dying at the end of the season to over-winter in the form of seeds.
Lower leaves are larger, wedge-shaped at the base with toothed margins and often 3 distinct lobes. Upper leaves are smaller and narrow.
The plant has a bushy form of growth with many upward-reaching branches, the tips of which are laden with irregular clusters of tiny inconspicuous and separate-sexed flowers. Male flowers are more visible during flowering on account of their yellow stamens. Female flowers produce tiny, dark brown seeds that can easily survive soil disturbance.
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