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1. • ETYMOLOGY:
The family Amaranthaceae was first published in
1789 by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu. "Amaranth"
derives from Greek word (amárantos), "unfading",
with the Greek word for "flower",(ánthos), factoring
into the word's development as amaranth, the
unfading flower. Amarant is an archaic variant.
• Common Name(s) : pigweed (English), amaranths
[French]
• Type genus: Amaranthus L.
• Example:
Amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus L.)
Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.)
Amaranthaceae

2. Distribution:
Amaranthaceae is a widespread and cosmopolitan family from the tropics
to cool temperate regions. The Amaranthaceae (sensu stricto) are
predominantly tropical, whereas the former Chenopodiaceae have their
centers of diversity in dry temperate and warm temperate areas. Many of
the species are halophytes, tolerating salty soils, or grow in dry steppes or
semi-deserts.
Vegetable amaranths grow very well in the hot, humid regions of Africa,
South-east Asia, Southern China, and India. . Only a few genera occur in
temperate regions, the most prominent of which is Amaranthus. Centres
of diversity are Central and South America,
tropical and South Africa, and Australia.
Global diversity:
Amaranth family of flowering plants with about 175 genera
and more than 2,500 species, mostly herbs and subshrubs,
distributed nearly worldwide.

3. Classification According to Bentham
and Hooker and APG IV System
APG IV SYSTEM
BENTHAM AND HOOKER SYSTEM
CLASS: DICOTYLEDONAE
Reasons:1. Leaves reticulate
venation
2. Flowers tetra or pentamerous
Subclass: Monochlamydeae
Reasons: 1. Perianth 1 or 2 whorled
2. Tepals sepaloid
Series: Curve embryae
Reasons: 1. Ovary usually unilocular
2. Ovule mostly 1
3. Embryo curved
Family: Amaranthaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Juss.

4. Phylogeny of Amaranthaceae
• The family is closely related to
Chenopodiaceae (which is placed within
Amaranthaceae in APG classifications) but
differentiated in scarious bracts and perianth,
connate stamens and presence of staminodes.
Numerous studies on the morphology,
anatomy, and phytochemistry of the two
families revealed a number of shared, mostly
derived features. These include minute sessile
flowers arranged in cymose inflorescences; a
five-merous, imbricate, uniseriate perianth; a
single whorl of epitepalous stamens; a single
basal ovule.
• Amaranthaceae were made by Martius (1826),
• Traditionally, Caryophyllaceae subf.
Paronychioideae were assumed to be the
closest relatives of
Amaranthaceae/Chenopodiaceae (Bentham
and Hooker 1880).
• Achatocarpaceae as sister to the
Amaranthaceae/Chenopodiaceae.

5. Diagnostic Characteristics.
•Distinguishing characters (always present) –
•Plants with simple, estipulate leaves with entire
margins. Plants are Herbaceous.
•Flowers are small, several clustered in
inflorescences. Flowers are actinomorphic.
•A bract and two bracteoles support a flower.
•Sepals (tepals) present, free; petals absent.
•Stamens 5, opposite to the tepals, Monadelphous.
•Ovary superior, 2-3-carpellate; placentation basal.
•Fruit usually an utricle.

6. Endemic species
1.Achyranthes coynei Santapau
Native : W.Ghats. Maharashtra(Raigad)
2.Amaranthus caturus B.Heyne ex Hook.f.
Native : Peninsular india, Maharashtra
3.Psilotrichum nudum B.Heyne ex Wall.Moq.
Native :Andhra Pradesh, Kerala ,
Tamil Nadu
4. Aerva wightii Hook.f.
Native : W.Ghats.
Tamilnadu (Tirunelveli hills)
5. Psilotrichum nudum (B.Heyne ex Wall.)
Native : Andhra Pradesh, Kerala , Tamil Nadu

7. Economic Importantance
• The Amaranthaceae is of little economic
importance.
• Food: Seeds of Amaranthus caudatus are edible.
Amaranthus cruentus and A. frumentacea arc raised
as cereals by primitive tribes in Tropical Asia. The
leaves of Amaranthus viridis, A. spinosus and A.
tricolor are also used as vegetables.
• Medicinal: Achyranthes aspera is diuretic and
purgative. Decoction of Aerua tomentosa is used to
remove swellings. The stem and leaves of
Alternanthera are used in snake-bite. The flowers
and seeds of Digera muricata (syn. D. arvensis) are
given for urinary discharges.
• Dye: Leaves of Bosia amherstiana yield a black dye.
The fruit juice of Deeringia is a substitute for red ink.
• Weeds: Some genera are weeds e.g. Amaranthus,
Celosia, Digera, Achyranthes, Gomphrena etc.
• Ornamentals: Celosia cristata (Cockscomb),
Gomphrena globosa (Globe amaranthus) are
cultivated in gardens.

8. IUCN Threatened species
1. Achyranthes coynei Santapau
• Achyranthes coynei Sant.,
(Amaranthaceae) is a rare, medicinal
shrub, endemic to India.
• Common name : Coyne's Chaff Flower
• Distribution
:W.Ghats.,Maharashtra(Raigad)
• Conservation status : Endemic
• Habit : Shrub
• Uses : The plant especially, leaves are
used in treatment of various disorders by
folk healers.

9. 3. Psilotrichum aphyllum
• Psilotrichum aphyllum is a species
of plant in the family Amaranthaceae.
• Distribution : Socotra off the coast of
Yemen
• Conservation status : Endangered
• Habitat : subtropical or tropical dry forests
and rocky areas
2. Aerva wightii Hook.f.
• Distribution : W.Ghats.
• Tamilnadu (Tirunelveli hills)
• Conservation status : Endemic/Extinct
• Habit : Undershrub
• Uses : It is used in folk medicine.
C.C.Towns

10. Invasive Alien Species
1. Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.)
Griseb
• Alternanthera philoxeroides, commonly
referred to as alligator weed.
• Uses: It has been used in
aquaculture to remove
pollutants from the water and as
a source of biomass
• Alternanthera philoxeroides can
be used for
the phytoremediation of Cd in
their invaded water bodies.

11. 2.Amaranthus viridis L.
• It is a cosmopolitan species in the botanical
family Amaranthaceae.
• Uses: It is used as traditional medicine in the
treatment of asthma, and diabetes. The plant
also possesses anti-microbial properties.
3.Celosia argentea L.
• It is commonly known as the plumed cockscomb
or silver cock's comb,
• Uses:It is used in the treatment of blood-shot
eyes, blurring of vision, cataracts and
hypertension.

12. 4.Alternanthera pungens Kunth
• Alternanthera pungens is a creeping, prostrate
perennial pioneer plant of the family Amaranthaceae
• Uses: In traditional medicine it was used
as painkiller, for stomachache, swelling and
nasopharyngeal infections and also reported for
lactation stimulus in veterinary.
5.Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R.Br. ex DC.
• Alternanthera sessilis is a flowering plant known by
several common names, including sissoo spinach,
Brazilian spinach, sessile joyweed and dwarf
copperleaf.
• Uses: As a herbal medicine, the plant has diuretic,
cooling, tonic and laxative properties. It has been
used for the treatment of dysuria and haemorrhoids.

13. Campus Plants
– 1. Amaranthus spinosus L.
• Common name : spiny amaranth
• Native : Mexico to Tropical America
• Uses : It can be a serious weed for rice cultivation
in Asia. It is highly food plant in Africa.
• 2. Achyranthes aspera L.
• Common name : prickly chaff flower
• Native : Tropical & Subtropical Old World
• Uses : The juice of this plant is a potent ingredient for a
mixture of wall plaster. It has been used in folk medicine in
countries including Australia, India, and Kenya.
3.Allmania nodiflora (L.)
R.Br. ex Wight
• Common name: Node Flower Allmania
• Native : Indian Subcontinent to China (Guangxi) and
W. & Central Malesia
• Uses : Fresh leaves used as a green leafy
vegetable, which is rich in vitamins and iron. It is
used as folk medicine to treat constipation and

14. Thank you.
References:
• 1.Name of family { powo.com}.
• 2.Global distribution {Mobot.org}.
• 3. Classification of APG4 {BHL,systems of
classifications}
4.Diagnostic character { Powo.com }
• 5.Phylogeny {mobot.com}
• 6.Endemic species {Endemic Vascular plants}
• 7.Economic importance {GISD.org}
• 8.Plant from MCC campus { plants for the day}