DEERINGIA. ] 



AMARANTACE&. 



inhabiting tropical and sub-tropical regions. The family is closely 

 allied to the Chenopodiacece, differing chiefly in habit. 



Leaves alternate ; staminodes none : 

 Ovary 2-many-ovuled : 



A shrub with scarlet berries . .1. DEERINGIA. 



Herbs with circumscissile capsules . 2. CELOSIA. 



Ovary 1-ovuled ; ovule erect : 



Flowers 2-sexual, in spikes ; fruit a crus- 



taceous nut . . . . .3. DIGERA. 



Flowers monoecious or polygamous : 

 fruit an indehiscent or circumscissile 

 utricle . . . . . .4. AMARANTHS. 



Leaves alternate or fascicled or with opposite 

 and alternate leaves mixed ; stamens with 

 interposed staminodes . . . .5. MEUA. 



Leaves all opposite (not fascicled) ; stamens 

 with or without interposed staminodes : 



Anthers 2 -celled : 



Flowers all perfect, in spikes : 



Stamens 2 ; staminodes none . 6. NOTHOS^RVA. 



Stamens 5, with interposed stami- 

 nodes . . . . .7. ACHYRANTHES. 

 Flowers fascicled, each fascicle con- 

 taining one perfect flower and several 

 sterile ones the perianth -segments 

 of which become converted into 

 spreading hooked bristles ; stami- 

 nodes none ..... 8. PUPALIA. 

 Anthers 1 -celled 9. ALTERNTHERA. 



1. DEERINGIA, 7?. Br. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. iv, 714. 



Rambling or climbing undershrufcs. Leaves alternate, petioled. 

 Flowers small, in simple or panicled spikes, 2- sexual or polygamo- 

 dicecious ; bracts and bracteoles scarious. Perianth-segments 5, 

 sepaline, free and equal or nearly so, membranous or herbaceous, 

 spreading in fruit. Stamens 4 or 5, connate below in a hypogy- 

 nous cup ; anthers broadly oblong, 2-celled. Ovary ovoid or sub- 

 globose, sessile or stipitate ; styles 2 or 4, subulate, connate below, 

 uniformly papillose throughout, or small sessile and capitellate ; 



