CVI. AMARANTACEE (BAKER AND CLARKE). 15 
Species 600, in tropical and warm countries, mostly weeds. 
It is sometimes a question of interpretation whether the ‘‘ bracteoles ” to a per- 
fect flower are to be considered “ prophylla” or as 2 rudimentary “ flowers” reduced 
to bracts. In the flower-cluster genera the number of perfect flowers in the cluster 
is 2 or 1, or mostly 1, in the same flower-spike; the number of sterile flowers in the 
cluster is highly variable. In some of the species which are considered to have 
staminodes the staminal tube is a mere rim, and the staminodes are minute and 
hardly to be made out with the microscope ; but in these cases the filaments being 
linear to the base (not united by an acute sinus), carry the species to the group 
diagnosed as having staminodes. In Hermbstedtia it cannot be determined abso- 
lutely what part of the tube belongs to the fertile filaments, what to the sterile; IL 
prefer here the earlier view of Dr. Schinz to the later. In the face of these facts, 
the subjoined table of the genera has been drawn up, as far as practicable, to 
work (for the African species) from obvious characters. At the same time, it is not 
admitted that there exists (for instance) between Achyranthes and Pandiaka any 
more definite difference than that between petioled and sessile leaves. 
Leaves alternate. Anthers 2-celled. 
Ovary with several ovules. Flowers glabrous or 
nearly so. 
Flowers pedicelled. Fruit a berry . : . 1. DEERINGIA. 
Flowers sessile. Utricle membranous. 
Filaments linear to the base; no staminodes 2. CELOSTA. 
Filaments broad or staminodes present . . 3. HERMBSTEDTIA. 
Ovary with 1 ovule. 
Flowers nearly glabrous, No staminodes. 
Ovary glabrous. 
Fertile flower supported by 2 sterile 4. DIGERA. 
Fertile flower solitary : 5. AMARANTHUS. 
Ovary densely woolly i 6. MECHOWIA. 
Flowers full of fine hairs. Staminodes present. 
Fertile flower solitary. o’ 7.-ABRVA. 
8. SERICOCOMA, 
Fertile flower supported by 2 sterile . 
Leaves opposite. 
Anthers 2-celled. 
Bracts of the sterile flowers ending (some of 
them) in hooked spines. 
Staminodes present : : : . 9. CYaTHULA. 
No staminodes ; . 10. PUPALIA. 
Bracts of the sterile flowers none 2 ending in 
hooked spines. 
Flowers (some rudimentary) clustered in 
partial inflorescences, 
Staminodes 0. . . . . 
Staminodes present. 
Leaves either linear or elliptic . . 12. CypHOCARPA. 
Leaves narrowly oblong . 13. CENTEMA, 
Flowers solitary. 
Staminodes 0. 
Perianth nearly glabrous. : . 14, PsILoTRICHUM, 
Perianth with long white hairs. . 15. CHIONOTHRIX. 
Staminodes present. 
Leaves present. 
Erect herbs or small shrubs. 
Leaves petioled. 
Fruit-perianth deflexed . 16. ACHYRANTHES. 
11. MARCELLIA, 
