Leaves opposite or alternate, simple, entire, toothed or lobed
Flowers bisexual or unisexual, single or in a range of infls., reduced, wind-pollinated. Plants with unisexual flowers monoecious or dioecious
Fruit an indehiscent nutlet
Seed lenticular with embryo surrounding endosperm
100 genera, 1500 species
Economic uses:
Beta (beets and Swiss chard) beet juice pigments are betalains
Spinacia oleracea (spinach)
Chenopodium quinoa (grain)
Several members of the genus Chenopodium are aggressive weeds
IMAGE GALLERY