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 CLI. AMARANTACEjE. The Amaranth Tribe. 



Ajcabaxthi, Juss. Gen. 87. (1789.)— Amaranthaces, R. Brown Prodr. 413. (1810) ; Von 

 Martius Monogr. (1826) ; Lindley's Synopsis, 213. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with erect seeds, an embryo curved 

 round mealy albumen, radicle next the hilum, hypogynous stamens, and 

 scarious bracteolate calyxes. 



Anomalies. Stamens sometimes perigynous. 



Essential Character. — Calyx 3- or 5-leaved, hypogynous, scarious, persistent, occa- 

 sionally with 2 bracteolae at the base. Stamens hypogynous, either 5, or some multiple of 

 that number, either distinct or monadelphous, occasionally partly abortive ; anthers either 

 2-celled or 1-celled. Ovarium single, superior, 1- or few-seeded; the ovules hanging from a 

 free central funiculus ; style 1 or none ; stigma simple or compound. Fruit a membranous 

 utricle. Seeds lentiform, pendulous ; testa crustaceous ; albumen central, farinaceous ; em- 

 bryo curved round the circumference; radicle next the hilum; plumula inconspicuous. — 

 Herbs or shrubs. Leaves simple, opposite or alternate, without stipulse. flowers in heads or 

 spikes, usually coloured, occasionally diclinous, generally monoclinous. Pubescence simple, 

 the hairs divided by internal partitions. 



Affinities. Different as this order appears to be from Chenopodese in habit, 

 especially if we compare such a genus as Gomphrena with Chenopodium itself, 

 it is so difficult to define the differences that distinguish the two orders, that, 

 beyond habit, nothing certain can be pointed out. Mr. Brown remarks 

 (Prodr. 413.), that he has not been able to ascertain any absolute diagnosis 

 to distinguish them by ; for the hypogynous insertion attributed to their sta- 

 mens is not only not constant in the order, but is also found in some Chenopo- 

 dese. Dr. Von Martius, in a learned dissertation upon the order, describes 

 Chenopodeae as being apetalous, and Amarantaceae as polypetalous, consider- 

 ing the bracteolae of these latter as a calyx, and that which I call a calyx a 

 corolla. But it seems to me that this view of their structure is not bome out 

 by analogy, and that it is impossible to believe the floral envelopes of the two 

 orders to be of a different nature. I am certainly unable to indicate any better 

 mode of distinguishing them than has been pointed out by those that have 

 gone before me ; and at the same time I cannot hesitate to keep asunder 

 orders which it is evident that nature has divided. Bartling combines these 

 plants in a single class, along with Caryophylleee, Phytolacceae, Scleranthe*, 

 and Illecebreae ; and there is no doubt of the near affinity borne to each other 

 by all these, as is pointed out by their habit and by the structure of their seeds. 



Geography. These plants grow in crowds or singly, either in dry, stony, 

 barren stations, or among thickets upon the borders of woods, or a few even 

 in salt marshes. They are much more frequent within the tropics than 

 beyond them, and are unknown in the coldest regions of the world. 53 are 

 found in tropical Asia, 105 in tropical America, but 5 in extra-tropical Asia, 

 and but 21 in extra-tropical America; 5 are natives of Europe, 28 of New 

 Holland, and 9 of Africa and its islands. See Von Martius Monogr. 



Properties. Many of the species are used as potherbs, on account of the 

 wholesome mucilaginous qualities of the leaves. Amaranthus obtusifolius is 

 said to be diuretic. Several are objects of interest with gardeners for the 

 beauty of their colouring and the durability of their blossoms. Gomphrena 

 officinalis and macrocephala have a prodigious reputation in Brazil, where 

 they are called Para todo, Perpetua, and Raiz do Padre Salerma : as the first 

 of these names imports, they are esteemed useful in all kinds of diseases, 

 especially in cases of intermittent fevers, colics, and diarrhoea, and against the 

 bite of serpents. Plantes Usuelles, nos. 31 and 32. 



Examples. Amaranthus, Gomphrena, Celosia. 



