Family · Other eudicots
Amaranthaceae
Amaranth, beet, spinach, quinoa
Herbs and shrubs, many salt- and drought-tolerant, including beet, spinach, quinoa and amaranth.
- Accepted species
- 2,420accepted names · Kew WCVP
- Genera
- 180accepted genera · Kew WCVP
- Origin
- ≈44 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
- Centre of diversity
- Asia-Temperatemost native species · WGSRPD
Open Amaranthaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.›
Plants you might know
- Amaranthus
- Beta (beet)
- Spinacia (spinach)
- Salicornia
Largest genera
Atriplex257 spp.
Chenopodium156 spp.
Gomphrena144 spp.
Caroxylon134 spp.
Ptilotus127 spp.
Alternanthera107 spp.
Amaranthus105 spp.
Suaeda95 spp.
Sclerolaena79 spp.
Corispermum78 spp.
Maireana58 spp.
Salicornia55 spp.
Dysphania49 spp.
Tecticornia48 spp.
Celosia46 spp.
Cyathula44 spp.
Salsola40 spp.
Climacoptera39 spp.
Iresine34 spp.
Achyranthes33 spp.
Pfaffia33 spp.
Anabasis30 spp.
Psilotrichum26 spp.
Halothamnus22 spp.
Soda22 spp.
Halimocnemis21 spp.
Bassia20 spp.
Froelichia15 spp.
Oxybasis15 spp.
Hermbstaedtia14 spp.
Lagrezia14 spp.
Blitum13 spp.
Centemopsis13 spp.
Haloxylon12 spp.
Oreosalsola12 spp.
Petrosimonia11 spp.
Beta10 spp.
Chenopodiastrum10 spp.
Deeringia10 spp.
Kaviria9 spp.
Horaninovia8 spp.
Kalidium8 spp.
Nanophyton8 spp.
Ouret8 spp.
Pedersenia8 spp.
Aerva7 spp.
Arthrophytum7 spp.
Axyris7 spp.
Guilleminea7 spp.
Noaea7 spp.
Agriophyllum6 spp.
Charpentiera6 spp.
Cornulaca6 spp.
Halocharis6 spp.
Hebanthe6 spp.
Polycnemum6 spp.
Tidestromia6 spp.
Anthochlamys5 spp.
Camphorosma5 spp.
Girgensohnia5 spp.
The 120 smaller genera are in the interactive tree.
Where it grows
- Asia-Temperate676
- Australasia525
- Africa509
- Southern America454
- Northern America305
- Europe227
- Asia-Tropical206
- Pacific24
- Antarctic5
Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.
Related families
Amaranthaceae sits in the order Caryophyllales.
- CaryophyllaceaeCarnations, pinks, chickweed3,403
- CactaceaeCacti2,033
- AizoaceaeIce plants, living stones1,815
- PolygonaceaeBuckwheat, rhubarb, knotweed1,638
- PlumbaginaceaeSea lavender, leadwort1,141
- NyctaginaceaeBougainvillea, four o'clocks465
- DroseraceaeSundews, Venus flytrap277
- MontiaceaeMiner's lettuce271
- NepenthaceaeTropical pitcher plants218
- PortulacaceaePurslanes154
- TamaricaceaeTamarisks113
- MolluginaceaeCarpetweeds99
- FrankeniaceaeSea heaths86
- Anacampserotaceae61
- PhytolaccaceaePokeweeds34
- TalinaceaeFameflowers29
- Limeaceae25
- Petiveriaceae22
- Ancistrocladaceae20
- DidiereaceaeMadagascar ocotillo20
- BasellaceaeMalabar spinach19
- Microteaceae10
- Achatocarpaceae10
- Macarthuriaceae9