in botany, a genus of the pentandria order, belonging to the monogynia class of plants, and associating with the Miscellanea, in the 54th Natural Order.

The characters are: The calyx is a double perianthium; the exterior one consisting of three lanceolate acute leaves, which are persistent; the interior of five leaves, also persistent. No corolla. The nectarium is five-valved, surrounding the germen, bearded at the top, concave, and falling off. The stamens consist of five filaments the length of the corolla, the anthers are ovate and incumbent. The pistillum has a top-shaped germen; the style is filiform, and the length of the stamens; the stigma is villous, and divided into two segments. The perianthium is a roundish one-celled capsule, not gaping. The seed is single and oblong.

Of this genus eight species are enumerated; but the character of the genus does not agree in them all.

The species are 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. It 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.