Amaranth

Chenopodiastrum flower at different times of the year and are found on roadsides and in waste areas in Eurasia, North Africa, and North America. A number of the species are considered weeds while others, such as Chenopodistrum ambrosioides, are more highly valued as they are known to be aromatic when the leaves are crushed. Most plants in the genus have erect stems with lateral branches and alternate leaves.

The species of genus saxauls are shrubs or small trees 1.006 to 8 m (rarely up to 12 m) tall, with a thick trunk and many branches. The branches of the current year are green, from erect to pendant. The leaves are reduced to small scales. The flowers are very small, as long or shorter than the bracteoles, bisexual or male. The fruit have wings. The seed is small. The genus saxauls is distributed in southwest and Central Asia. It consists of only 2 species.

The species of the winterfat genus have long been regarded as good forage for livestock and wild animals, including birds, during the harsh winter months. These fast-growing and drought-tolerant plants are also being cultivated in some gardens for their aesthetically attractive silver-colored foliage.

The species of saltwort are mostly subshrubs, shrubs, small trees, and rarely annuals. The leaves are mostly alternate, rarely opposite, simple, and entire. The bisexual flowers have five tepals and five stamens. The pistil ends in two stigmata. The fruit is spherical with a spiral embryo and no perisperm.It has 24-25 species.The genus sensu stricto is distributed in central and southwestern Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean.

There are three species, ranging from North America to South America. The species of allenrolfea are subshrubs or shrubs with erect or decumbent growth. The stems are much branched, succulent, glabrous and appear to be articulated. The alternate leaves are sessile and stem-clasping, fleshy, glabrous, their blades reduced to small, broadly triangular scales, with entire margins and acute apex. The inflorescences are terminal spikes with spirally arranged flowers. Cymes of three or five flowers are sitting in the axils of deciduous, peltate, fleshy bracts. The fruit in an ovoid, compressed utricle with membranous pericarp. The erect seed is brown or reddish brown, oblong, with smooth surface.

Saltbushes are aptly named as these plants are "halophytes," meaning they can tolerate environments with very high levels of salt. Perhaps unsurprisingly then, they are most commonly found in two habitat types: along saltwater shorelines and in deserts with salty soils. Saltbush ability to grow where most other plants can't make them important food and shelter sources for animals (especially insects) in environments that would otherwise be mostly barren.

Smotherweeds are a small genus, most of which are adapted to thrive in salty soils. Several members of this family can cause problems because they are toxic to animals including sheep. Plants of this genus are typically found in arid habitats and some introduced species are considered invasive.

Saltlover are annual and perennial species native to Asia. Some annual saltlover grow in temperate, salty environments. Some perennials are found in hot, dry deserts. Due to their ability to tolerate extreme environments, they are considered invasive in many areas. Saltlover have red stems, inconspicuous flowers, and cylinder-shaped leaves.

Aphanisma includes only one species, a rare annual plant. It is a succulent saline-adapted plant found in sand or scrub at the immediate coastline. It has many thin, sprawling stems, few reduced green leaves, and tiny flowers. The older stems are bright red. Aphanisma is native to the coastline of Baja California and southern California, including the Channel Islands.

In general, these are erect annual plants with flat, thin leaves and topped with inflorescences of flowers with long bracts. Tumbleweeds are native to North America and Eurasia.

Cycloloma is a monotypic genus which contains the sole species. This plant is native to central North America. This is a bushy annual herb forming a rounded pale green clump which may exceed 50 cm in height. It is very intricately branched, with toothed leaves occurring near the base. The spreading stems bear widely spaced flowers are small immature fruits fringed with a nearly transparent membranous wing. The fruit is a utricle containing a single seed.

The spinaches (Spinacia) are a very small group of flowering plants in the amaranth family. By far the most famous member of this genus is the widely-cultivated Spinach (Spinacea oleracea), the leafy greens of which are eaten all over the world. China is by far the largest producer of spinaches, growing about 90% of the world's total production.

Amaranths (Amaranthus) are a widely distributed and diverse group of flowering plants. Several species within this genus are important crops that have been cultivated by humans for millennia. The leaves, seeds, roots, and stems of various species are all eaten. Many amaranths are also cultivated ornamentally, as they are hardy, quick-growing, and produce large clusters or spikes of small but colorful flowers. Unfortunately, due to their hardiness and ability to colonize disturbed areas, several amaranths species have also become pesky invasives in places where they've been introduced.

The goosefoots (Chenopodium) are a large group of flowering plants, many of which are of great culinary value to humans. Several species of goosefoots have been eaten by people for thousands of years, the most famous example being Quinoa (C. quinoa). Many goosefoots seeds also provide food for birds and mammals, while their foliage is eaten by caterpillars and other insects.

Joseph's coat are a varied genus of aquatic and terrestrial species. As annuals or perennials, they are often noted for the color of their leaves and the opposite growth form of those leaves. Joseph's coat are native to Central and South America with some species naturalized in parts of Europe.