Botanical Family · Caryophyllales
Amaranthaceae
Amaranth family
35 speciesOrder Caryophyllales8+ well-known plants
The amaranth family (now including the goosefoots/Chenopodiaceae), encompassing important grain crops (amaranth, quinoa), spinach (Spinacia), and beetroot (Beta). Many are adapted to arid, saline, or disturbed habitats. Flowers are small and inconspicuous, often with papery bracts.
Browse all 35 species ↓
How to recognise the Amaranthaceae family
- 01
Small flowers with scarious (papery) tepals
- 02
Often adapted to saline or dry conditions
- 03
Utricle or achene fruit; C4 photosynthesis common
Typical leaf characters
Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.
Typical flower & fruit
Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.
Notable members
Devil's Horse Whip, Prickly Chaff Flower, Rough ChaffAchyranthes asperaDevil's HorsewhipAchyranthes aspera var. argenteaOx KneeAchyranthes bidentataPink Chaff FlowerAchyranthes coyneiKapok BushAerva javanicaPolpolaAerva lanataNode Flower AllmaniaAllmania nodiflora var. asperaCalicoplantAlternanthera bettzickiana
All 35 species in AMARANTHACEAE
- Devil's Horse Whip, Prickly Chaff Flower, Rough ChaffAchyranthes aspera
- Devil's HorsewhipAchyranthes aspera var. argentea
- Ox KneeAchyranthes bidentata
- Pink Chaff FlowerAchyranthes coynei
- Kapok BushAerva javanica
- PolpolaAerva lanata
- Node Flower AllmaniaAllmania nodiflora var. aspera
- CalicoplantAlternanthera bettzickiana
- Smooth Joy WeedAlternanthera paronychioides
- Aligator WeedAlternanthera philoxeroides
- Khaki WeedAlternanthera pungens
- Joy Weed; Dwarf Copperleaf; Sessile Joy WeedAlternanthera sessilis
- SanguinariaAlternanthera tenella
- Red AmaranthAmaranthus cruentus
- Purple AmaranthAmaranthus graecizans subsp. thellungianus
- Smooth PigweedAmaranthus hybridus
- Spiny Amaranth, Prickly AmaranthAmaranthus spinosus
- Joseph's CoatAmaranthus tricolor
- Slender Amaranth, Wild AmaranthAmaranthus viridis
- Silverspiked Cock's Comb, Quail GrassCelosia argentea
- Quail GrassCelosia cristata
- Small Prickly Chaff-Flower PlantCyathula prostrata
- False AmaranthDigera muricata
- Prostrate Globe-AmaranthGomphrena celosioides
- GomphrenaGomphrena globosa
- Mountain KnotgrassOuret lanata
- Forest BurrPupalia lappacea
- SpinachSpinacia oleracea
- Achyranthes aspera var. rubrofusca
- Aerva sanguinolenta
- Allmania nodiflora
- Allmania nodiflora var. procumbens
- Alternanthera ficoidea
- Celosia polygonoides
- Trichurus monsoniae
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