Plant Families: Amaranth and Amaryllis

Last week, nine feet deep in winter, I began a series of articles briefly describing the various plant families we wildflower lovers are likely to encounter out there, in the sun and in the shade. Now, a mere 7 days later, we are more than 11 feet deep in winter and the snow is throwing itself at the earth with hedonistic zeal. With that scene outside my window, a cup of coffee at my elbow billowing steam like a smoke stack , and impossible thoughts of spring taunting me from a vast distance, I force myself to continue, clinging to the notion of that first wildflower...

Amaranthaceae, or the Amaranth family.

These (mostly) herbs have inconspicuous flowers, usually in spike- or head-like clusters, sometimes with brightly colored bracts. The flowers are radially symmetrical and either unisexual or bisexual. Flowers have 2 to 5 sepals which are often scaly and brightly colored. The petals are absent and there are 5 or fewer stamens. All these parts are attached at the base of the ovary.

Leaves are simple and either opposite or alternate, and the fruit has one seed.

There are 90 species in the Amaranth family in about 60 genera. They are abundant in warm regions and while many species are considered allergy-causing weeds some, such as Celosia are very popular and beautiful additions to gardens. Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) and Thorny Pigweed (A. spinosus) grow along roadsides, in waste places and cultivated soil in North America. Thorny Pigweed produces a tremendous number of seeds, and is an important food source for songbirds.

Another popular cultivar in this family is Love-lies-bleeding (A. caudatus).

Amaryllidaceae), or the Amaryllis family.

We all know this family, whether its the gaudy red blossoms we encourage in pots, or spring-blooming Daffodils that pop up around the yard.

There are 1,300 species of Amaryllis in abut 86 genera, mostly native of tropical and warm climates. They grow from bulbs or underground stems, have narrow basal leaves and a long, leafless flowering stalk.

The flowers are radially symmetrical with 3 sepals and 3 petals that are the same color, united below in a tube. With the 6 stamens, all these parts are attached above the ovary.

The leaves are grass-like or rigid blades that are sharply pointed, with teeth along the edges. The fruit produced is a capsule or berry. The leaves and bulbs of most members of the Amaryllis family are poisonous.

North American species include Swamp Lily (Crinum americanum), Spider Lily (Hymenocallis liriosme), Yellow Star Grass (Hypoxis hirsuta), and Easter Lily (Zephyranthus atamasco).

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