Vol. 11, Special Issue 8 (2022)

Author(s):
Dr. Prerana Badoni and Dr. Teena Agrawal

Abstract:
Amaranthaceae is the angiosperm family, commonly known as the amaranth family. The name of the family is based on the genus Amaranthus. The characters of the family are based on the Chenopodiaceae family, some of the features resemble the prickly flowers family. Overall, the family contains 160 genera and around 2000 species, the exact number of the families varies litt to litt. The lineages of the family with the Caryophyllales orders in APG IV. Most of the species in the family are herbs, herbs may be annual in nature, they may be perennials in nature m some shrubs as well as the vines, lianas, and weeds are also found in this case. Many species have stems with swollen nodes, when secondary growth occurs in the stem, and roots, anomalous secondary growth can be seen, this anomalous secondary growth provides the means for adaption in the harsh environment to facilitate the growth of the plants. The leaves are simple, mostly alternate, and rarely opposite arrangement of the leaves can be seen. Stipules are rare in this family, they are found in the form of a very small outgrowth. The flowers are solitary, aggregates found in the form of the spikes, cyme, or panicles of the aggregates. Flowers are actinomorphic, complete, hermaphrodites, completes, with bracts, bracteoles. They are generally small. Some species have unisexual flowers perianth mostly five or ten, are found in groups of the pentamerous. One to five stamens opposite to tepals are found on the hypogynous disc. Fruits are utricles, the persistent calyx is the very unique feature of the family, C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathway has been seen in the family, and C4 pathway in many families lead to the divergent evolution.