Amaranth family |
The amaranth (Amaranthus) gave the family its name
Etymologically the botanical name derived from gr. amaraino (I do not wither) and from gr. anthos (flower), suggesting that flowers of amaranth apparently not wither because the inflorescences retain their color even after desiccation.
Approximately 170 genera and about 2300 species worldwide contains the widespread family of the Amaranthaceae. About half of them belong to the until recently considered viewed independently goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae). Molecular biological studies have shown that the pigweeds possess common ancestors only within the Amaranthaceae.
While the goosefoot family morphologically still could be describe very well, the Amaranthaceae are now no longer so easy to characterize.
Most of them are herbaceous plants, but the family also includes some shrubs, trees and lianas. The leaves, if present, always are simple, never composed, and the flowers are always very small. The usually 5 petals are sepal-like, vestigial or absent. Usually five stamens are present. The superior ovary consists of mostly 2–3 carpels and often has 1–3 styles with capitate stigmas.
| General floral formula: |
| * P5 A5 G(2–3) superior |
The amaranth family include crops such as sugar beet, fodder beet, beetroot and chard. These various cultural forms all belong to the species of Beta vulgaris. Spinacia oleracea, another representative of the Amaranthaceae, is known to everyone as spinach.
Interesting notes
The love-lies-bleeding is not only a popular ornamental plant, but its fruits can be used as a gluten-free pseudo-grain. In health food shops the grains are traded under the name of amaranth.
The representatives of the genus Salicornia, in English glasswort, are stem succulent, usually occurring on the seashores of the northern hemisphere, halophytic plants that can even be consumed.