Amaranthaceae  

Annual or perennial, monoecious or dioecious herbs to shrubs.Leaves alternate or opposite, exstipulate, usually simple, entire. Flowers bisexual or unisexual, arranged in spikes, panicles or dense heads, bracteate, 2- 3- bracteolate. Perianth-segments 3-5, free or united at base, more or less membranous, often persistent and chaffy. Stamens (1-) 3 5.perianth-segment-opposed; filaments free or fused into basal cup or tube, alternating with variously shaped pseudo staminodes when present. Ovary superior, 1-celled with 1-several ovules on basal placentation; style 1, stigmas 2-3. capitate to filiform. Fruit an irregularly rupturing or circumcissile capsule, rarely berry-like