in botany, a genus of the pentandria order, belonging to monogynia class of plants. There are seven species, all natives of the Indies. Only one of them, the amaranthus, is commonly cultivated in botanical gardens, and that more for the sake of variety than beauty. This species grows to the height of three feet, with oblong pointed leaves. The flowers come out in long spikes from the extremities of the branches, and appear in July, the seeds ripening in September. Plants of this kind must be reared in a hot-bed, and may be transplanted when they have acquired sufficient strength. If kept in pots, and sheltered during the winter in a warm greenhouse, they will live two or three years.