Flowers in dense spikes, heads or racemes, subtended by bracts, bisexual or unisexual, highly reduced, infls. often spiny
Fruit a circumscissile capsule,utricle or nutlet, dehiscing by a lid or indehiscent
Seed with embryo surrounding the endosperm
65 genera, 900 species
Economic importance: negative value as weeds, some horticultural uses - Celosia (cock's comb), Amaranthus was important grain plant for New World Indians and may eventually become important as a grain for modern agriculture due to its high lysine content
Diagnostic characteristics: large coarse plants in disturbed areas (weed taxa)
IMAGE GALLERY