268 AMARANTHACEM. [chap. 



79. Natural Order, Ainaranthacea. — The Amaranth Family. 



Herbs (or shrubs, Dee?'i?igia), with opposite or alternate, 

 simple, stipulate leaves, and minute scarious flowers. 



Type — Cockscomb {Celosia cristata). 



An erect annual, common in gardens, with alternate, 

 simple leaves, and terminal, close, panicled or crested 

 spikes of purple or golden, small, scarious flowers. 



Observe the dry, scarious segments of the perianth, 

 by which the Family may generally be distinguished at 

 sight from the foregoing. The technical distinctions are 

 not strong. A cultivated form of the Type is common (the 

 Garden Cockscomb) in which the inflorescence is crested 

 and laterally compressed, and many of the flowers are 

 barren. 



The Globe Amaranth {Gomphreiia), Love-lies-bleeding and 

 Princes' Feather (species of Afnara/ithus), are ornamental 

 garden plants, while several weedy species, with insignificant, 

 greenish flowers, serve as pot-herbs in India. 



A common Indian plant, Deeringia celosioides^ represents a 

 Sub-type, diff'ering from the Amaranths in climbing habit 

 and baccate fruit. 



