Family of the week-Amaranthaceae

[satish phadke]

Out of the 315 odd families some 50to 60 are commoner and more important.
This week's family is

Amaranthaceae.Cockscomb family.
Greek amarantos : unfading....long lasting flowers.

India and tropical America are chief distribution centres.
Large family--Includes some garden plants and pot herbs.
Vegetative characters :annual or perennial herbs,shrubs and rarely erect or climbing shrubs.
Stems often show abnormal secondary growth.
Leaves: alternate or opposite exstipulate,simple usually entire.
Flowers and Inflorescences:Small flowers are aggregated into simple or branched panicles spike s heads or cymes.Flowers are actinomorphic,bisexual or frequently unisexual,pentamerous and hypogynous.
Calyx-5 free basally connate sepals.
Petals are absent.Stamens are 5 and areopposite the sepals.
Sometimes nectar secreting disc is present.(bosia)
Pollination and dispersal:Nectar disc and showy flowers ==>insectpollination
Gomphrena--winged fruits=>dispersal by wind.Achyranthus Cyathula and Pupalia develop hooks on sepals which adhere to passing animals and humans.
Economic Importance:Little.
Few are used as food.
Examples:
Amaranthus (Mar.Chavalai)Leafy vegetable.
Celosia argentea:(Attached picture)spikes attract butterflies,Tender shoots are cooked and eaten
Alternanthera tenella and A.sessilis are common weeds.
Gomphrena globosa.

[J.M. Garg]

Here is the link & attachment of Digera arvensis from this family, posted by Sh. Debasish:

http://mail.google.com/mail/?hl=en&tab=wm&zx=1l5hvytj8g94o&ui=1

 

On 1/11/08, satish phadke <phadke...@gmail.com > wrote:

Out of the 315 odd families some 50to 60 are commoner and more important.
This week's family is

Amaranthaceae.Cockscomb family.
Greek amarantos : unfading....long lasting flowers.

India and tropical America are chief distribution centres.
Large family--Includes some garden plants and pot herbs.
Vegetative characters :annual or perennial herbs,shrubs and rarely erect or climbing shrubs.
Stems often show abnormal secondary growth.
Leaves: alternate or opposite exstipulate,simple usually entire.
Flowers and Inflorescences: Small flowers are aggregated into simple or branched panicles spike s heads or cymes.Flowers are actinomorphic,bisexual or frequently unisexual,pentamerous and hypogynous.

Calyx -5 free basally connate sepals.

Petals are absent.Stamens are 5 and areopposite the sepals.
Sometimes nectar secreting disc is present.(bosia)
Pollination and dispersal:Nectar disc and showy flowers ==>insectpollination
Gomphrena--winged fruits=>dispersal by wind.Achyranthus Cyathula and Pupalia develop hooks on sepals which adhere to passing animals and humans.
Economic Importance:Little.
Few are used as food.
Examples:
Amaranthus (Mar.Chavalai)Leafy vegetable.
Celosia argentea:(Attached picture)spikes attract butterflies,Tender shoots are cooked and eaten
Alternanthera tenella and A.sessilis are common weeds.
Gomphrena globosa.

For my Birds, Butterflies, Trees pictures etc., visit  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/J.M.Garg
For learning about our trees & plants, please visit http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en

[DEBASISH JOARDAR]

see link : http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/FACULTY/CARR/amaranth.htm

Debasish Joardar

On Jan 11, 5:31 pm, "J.M. Garg" <jmga...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Here is the link & attachment of Digera arvensis from this family, posted by
> Sh. Debasish:http://mail.google.com/mail/?hl=en&tab=wm&zx=1l5hvytj8g94o&ui=1
>

> On 1/11/08, satish phadke <phadke.sat...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > <http://bp2.blogger.com/__QrJWaqfjh8/R4cnKFF5VkI/AAAAAAAAAf0/POqxVMLe-...>

> --
> With regards,
> J.M.Garg
> "What ultimately remains, is the hand you extend to others"
> For my Birds, Butterflies, Trees pictures etc., visithttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/J.M.Garg

> For learning about our trees & plants, please visithttp://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en
>

>  1.jpg
> 81KViewDownload- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Jyoti Das]

Celosia argentina of Amaranthaceae

 

santanu

 

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