Amaranthaceae

The Amaranthaceae, the Amaranth family, represent the most species-rich lineage within the flowering plant order of Caryophyllales. Now including the former goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae), the extended family contains approximately 180 genera and 2,500 species.[1]

Description

Vegetative characters

Bassia laniflora (Illustration), Camphorosmoideae

Most of these species are annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs, some are shrubs; very few species are vines or trees. Some species are succulent. Many species have stems with thickened nodes. The wood of the perennial stem has a typical "anomalous" secondary growth, only in subfamily Polycnemoideae is secondary growth normal.[1]

The leaves are mostly alternate, sometimes opposite. They never possess stipules. The simple leaves are flat or terete, their shape is extremely variable, with entire or toothed margins. In some species, the leaves are reduced to minute scales. In most cases, neither basal or terminal aggregations of leaves occur.[1]

Flower of Nitrophila occidentalis, Polycnemoideae
Pollen grains of Halothamnus glaucus

Inflorescence and flowers

Flower of Silver Cockscomb Celosia argentea in Tirunelveli, India

The flowers are solitary or aggregated in cymes, spikes, or panicles and typically perfect (bisexual) and actinomorphic. Some species have unisexual flowers. Bracts and bracteoles are either herbaceous or scarious. Flowers are regular with a herbaceous or scarious perianth of (1 to) mostly 5 (rarely to 8) tepals, often joined. There are 1-5 stamens opposite to tepals or alternating, inserting from a hypogynous disc, which may have appendages (pseudostaminodes) in some species. The anthers have 2 or 4 pollen sacs (locules). In tribe Caroxyloneae, antheres have vesicular appendages. The pollen grains are spherical with many pores (pantoporate), with pore numbers from a few to 250 (in Froelichia).[2] 1-3 (rarely -6) carpels are fused to a superior ovary with 1 (rarely 2) basal ovule.[1]

Fruits and seeds

The diaspores are seeds or fruits (utricles), more often the perianth persists and is modified in fruit for means of dispersal. Sometimes even bracts and bracteoles may belong to the diaspore. More rarely the fruit is a circumscissile capsule or a berry. The horizontal or vertical seed often has a thickened or woody seed coat. The green or white embryo is either spirally (and without perisperm) or annular (rarely straight).[1]

Chromosome number

The basic chromosome number is (rarely 6) mostly 8-9 (rarely 17).[1]

Phytochemistry

Widespread in the Amaranthaceae is the occurrence of betalain pigments. The former Chenopodiaceae often contain isoflavonoids.[1]

In phytochemical research, several methylenedioxyflavonols, saponins, triterpenoids, ecdysteroids, and specific root-located carbohydrates have been found.[2]

Photosynthesis pathway

With approximately 800 species that are C4-plants, the Amaranthaceae represent the largest group with this photosynthesis pathway among the eudicots (1600 C4-species).[3] Within the family, there are several types of C4-photosynthesis, and about 17 different types of leaf anatomy are realized. Therefore, this photosynthesis pathway seems to have been developed about 15 times independently during the evolution of the family. 2/3 of the C4-species belong to the former Chenopodiaceae. The first occurrence of C4-photosynthesis dates from the early miocene, about 24 million years ago. But in some groups this photosynthesis pathway has evolved much later, about 6 (or less) million years ago.[3]

The multiple origin of C4-photosynthesis in Amaranthaceae is regarded as an evolutionary response to a permanent shortage in water supply in combination with high temperatures. These species with their higher water use efficiency had a selective advantage and were able to spread out into dry (arid) habitats.[3]

Distribution

This is a widespread and cosmopolitan family from the tropics to cool temperate regions. The Amaranthaceae (sensu strictu) are predominantly tropical, whereas the former Chenopodiaceae have their centers of diversity in dry temperate and warm temperate areas.[2] Many of the species are halophytes, tolerating salty soils, or grow in dry steppes or semideserts.

Economic importance

Some species, such as spinach (Spinacia oleracea) or forms of beet (Beta vulgaris) (beetroot, chard), are used as vegetables. Forms of Beta vulgaris include fodder beet (Mangelwurzel) and sugar beet. The seeds of Amaranthus, lamb's quarters (Chenopodium berlandieri), quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and kañiwa (Chenopodium pallidicaule) are edible and are used as pseudocereals.

Dysphania ambrosioides and Dysphania anthelmintica are used as medicinal herbs.

Several species are used indirectly as a source of soda ash, such as Salicornia (see Glasswort).

A number of species are popular garden ornamental plants, especially species from Alternanthera, Amaranthus, Celosia, and Iresine.

Some species are considered weeds, e.g., redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) and alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides).

Many species may cause pollen allergies.[4]

Systematics

Cladogram of Amaranthaceae s.l., modified and simplified, based on phylogenetic research of Müller & Borsch 2005, Kadereit et al. 2006, Sanchez del-Pino et al. 2009
Achyranthes splendens, Amaranthoideae
Gomphrena arborescens, Gomphrenoideae
Sugar beet, Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris 'altissima', Betoideae
Grayia spinosa, Chenopodioideae
Sarcocornia perennis, Salicornioideae
Kali turgidum (Syn. Salsola kali subsp. kali), Salsoloideae
Suaeda nigra, Suaedoideae

In the APG II system of 2003 (unchanged from the APG system, of 1998), the family is placed in the order Caryophyllales. It includes the plants formerly treated as the family Chenopodiaceae. The monophyly of this new, broadly defined Amaranthaceae has been strongly supported by both morphological and phylogenetic analyses.[5]

The family Amaranthaceae was first published in 1789 by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in Genera Plantarum, p. 87–88. The first publication of family Chenopodiaceae was in 1799 by Étienne Pierre Ventenat in Tableau du Regne Vegetal, 2, p. 253. The older name has priority and is now the valid scientific name of the extended Amaranthaceae (s.l. = sensu lato).

Many recent publications still refer to the family name Chenopodiaceae.[6][7][8][9][10][11] Phylogenetic research revealed the important impact of the subfamily Polycnemoideae on the classification (see Cladogram): If Polycnemoideae are considered being part of Chenopodiaceae, then Amaranthaceae (s.str. = sensu stricto) have to be included, too, and the name of the extended family is Amaranthaceae. If Polycnemoideae would be separated as an own family, Chenopodiaceae and Amaranthaceae (s.str.) would form two distinct monophyletic groups and could be treated as two separate families.

Amaranthaceae Juss. (s.l.) include the former families Achyranthaceae Raf., Atriplicaceae Durande, Betaceae Burnett, Blitaceae T.Post & Kuntze, Celosiaceae Martynov, Chenopodiaceae Vent., nom. cons.', Corispermaceae Link, Deeringiaceae J.Agardh, Dysphaniaceae (Pax) Pax, nom. cons., Gomphrenaceae Raf., Polycnemaceae Menge, Salicorniaceae Martynov, Salsolaceae Menge, and Spinaciaceae Menge.

The systematics of Amaranthaceae are the subject of intensive recent research. Molecular genetic studies revealed the traditional classification, based on morphological and anatomical characters, often did not reflect the phylogenetical relationships.

The former Amaranthaceae (in their narrow circumscription) are classified in two subfamilies, Amaranthoideae and Gomphrenoideae, and contain about 65 genera and 900 species in tropical Africa and North America. The Amaranthoideae and some genera of Gomphrenoideae were found to be polyphyletic, so taxonomical changes are needed.[12]

Current studies classified the species of former Chenopodiaceae to eight distinct subfamilies (the research is not yet completed): Polycnemoideae,[2][13] which are regarded as a basal lineage, Betoideae,[7] Camphorosmoideae,[11] Chenopodioideae,[10] Corispermoideae,[14] Salicornioideae,[8] Salsoloideae,[6] and Suaedoideae.[15]

In this preliminary classification, the Amaranthaceae s.l. are divided into 10 subfamilies with approximately 180 genera and 2,500 species.[2]

Genera

A short synoptic list of genera is given here. For further and more detailed information, see the subfamily pages.

Subfamily Genera
Amaranthoideae Achyranthes, Achyropsis, Aerva, Allmania, Allmaniopsis, Amaranthus, Arthraerua, Bosea, Calicorema, Celosia, Centema, Centemopsis, Centrostachys, Chamissoa, Charpentiera, Chionothrix, Cyathula, Dasysphaera, Deeringia, Digera, Eriostylos, Henonia, Herbstia, Hermbstaedtia, Indobanalia, Kyphocarpa, Lagrezia, Lecosia, Leucosphaera, Lopriorea, Marcelliopsis,Mechowia, Nelsia, Neocentema, Nothosaerva, Nyssanthes, Omegandra, Pandiaka, Pleuropetalum, Pleuropterantha, Polyrhabda, Pseudosericocoma, Psilotrichopsis, Psilotrichum, Ptilotus, Pupalia, Rosifax, Saltia, Sericocoma, Sericocomopsis, Sericorema, Sericostachys, Stilbanhtus, Trichuriella, Volkensinia
Gomphrenoideae Alternanthera, Blutaparon, Froelichia, Froelichiella, Gomphrena, Gossypianthus, Guilleminea, Hebanthe, Hebanthodes, Irenella, Iresine, Lithophila, Pedersenia, Pfaffia, Pseudogomphrena, Pseudoplantago, Quaternella, Tidestromia, Woehleria, Xerosiphon
Betoideae Acroglochin, Aphanisma, Beta, Hablitzia, Oreobliton, Patellifolia
Camphorosmoideae Bassia, Camphorosma, Chenolea, Didymanthus, Dissocarpus, Enchylaena, Eokochia, Eremophea, Eriochiton, Grubovia, Maireana, Malacocera, Neobassia, Neokochia, Osteocarpum, Roycea, Sclerolaena, Sedobassia, Spirobassia, Threlkeldia
Chenopodioideae Archiatriplex, Atriplex, Axyris, Baolia, Blitum, Ceratocarpus, Chenopodiastrum, Chenopodium, Cycloloma, Dysphania, Exomis, Extriplex, Grayia, Halimione, Holmbergia, Krascheninnikovia, Lipandra, Manochlamys, Microgynoecium, Micromonolepis, Oxybasis, Proatriplex, Spinacia, Stutzia, Suckleya, Teloxys
Corispermoideae Agriophyllum, Anthochlamys, Corispermum
Polycnemoideae Hemichroa, Nitrophila, Polycnemum, Surreya
Salicornioideae Allenrolfea, Arthrocnemum, Halocnemum, Halopeplis, Halostachys, Heterostachys, Kalidium, Microcnemum, Salicornia, Sarcocornia, Tecticornia
Salsoloideae Anabasis, Arthrophytum, Caroxylon, Climacoptera, Cornulaca, Cyathobasis, Fredolia, Girgensohnia, Halarchon, Halimocnemis, Halocharis, Halogeton, Halothamnus, Haloxylon, Hammada, Horaninowia, Iljinia, Kali, Kaviria, Lagenantha, Nanophyton, Noaea, Nucularia, Ofaiston, Petrosimonia, Piptoptera, Physandra, Pyankovia, Rhaphidophyton, Salsola, Sympegma, Traganum, Traganopsis, Turania, Xylosalsola
Suaedoideae Bienertia, Suaeda

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The Amaranthaceae family at APWebsite.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Kai Müller, Thomas Borsch (2005): Phylogenetics of Amaranthaceae using matK/trnK sequence data – evidence from parsimony, likelihood and Bayesian approaches. - Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 92, p. 66-102.
  3. 1 2 3 Gudrun Kadereit, Thomas Borsch, Kurt Weising, Helmut Freitag (2003): Phylogeny of Amaranthaceae and Chenopodiaceae and the evolution of C4 photosynthesis. - International Journal of Plant Sciences, Volume 164 (6), p.959–986.
  4. ↑ List of allergic plants in Chenopodiaceae family at pollenlibrary.com
  5. ↑ Judd et al. (2008). Plant Systematics: A Phylogenetic Approach, Third Edition. Sinauer Associates, Inc. Sunderland, MA
  6. 1 2 Hossein Akhani, Gerald Edwards, Eric H. Roalson (2007): Diversification Of The Old World Salsoleae s.l. (Chenopodiaceae): Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis Of Nuclear And Chloroplast Data Sets And A Revised Classification. - International Journal of Plant Sciences, 168(6), p.931–956.
  7. 1 2 G. Kadereit, S. Hohmann, J.W. Kadereit (2006): A synopsis of Chenopodiaceae subfam. Betoideae and notes on the taxonomy of Beta. - Willdenowia 36, p.9-19.
  8. 1 2 Gudrun Kadereit, Ladislav Mucina, Helmut Freitag (2006): Phylogeny of Salicornioideae (Chenopodiaceae): diversification, biogeography, and evolutionary trends in leaf and flower morphology. - Taxon 55(3), p. 617–642.
  9. ↑ Maxim V. Kapralov, Hossein Akhani, Elena V. Voznesenskaya, Gerald Edwards, Vincent Franceschi, Eric H. Roalson (2006): Phylogenetic Relationships in the Salicornioideae / Suaedoideae / Salsoloideae s.l. (Chenopodiaceae) Clade and a Clarification of the Phylogenetic Position of Bienertia and Alexandra Using Multiple DNA Sequence Datasets. - Systematic Botany.
  10. 1 2 Gudrun Kadereit, Evgeny V. Mavrodiev, Elizabeth H. Zacharias, Alexander P. Sukhorukov (2010): Molecular phylogeny of Atripliceae (Chenopodioideae, Chenopodiaceae): Implications for systematics, biogeography, flower and fruit evolution, and the origin of C4 Photosynthesis. - American Journal of Botany 97(10), p. 1664-1687.
  11. 1 2 Gudrun Kadereit, Helmut Freitag (2011): Molecular phylogeny of Camphorosmeae (Camphorosmoideae, Chenopodiaceae): Implications for biogeography, evolution of C4-photosynthesis and taxonomy. - Taxon 60(1), p. 51-78
  12. ↑ Ivonne Sánchez del-Pino, Thomas Borsch, Timothy J. Motle (2009): trnL-F and rpl16 Sequence Data and Dense Taxon Sampling Reveal Monophyly of Unilocular Anthered Gomphrenoideae (Amaranthaceae) and an Improved Picture of Their Internal Relationships. - Systematic Botany, Volume 34 (1), p. 57-67. doi:10.1600/036364409787602401
  13. ↑ Rüdiger Masson & Gudrun Kadereit (2013): Phylogeny of Polycnemoideae (Amaranthaceae): Implications for biogeography, character evolution and taxonomy. Taxon 62 (1): 100-111.
  14. ↑ Alexander P. Sukhorukov (2007): Fruit anatomy and its taxonomic significance in Corispermum (Corispermoideae, Chenopodiaceae). – Willdenowia 37, ISSN 0511-9618, p.63-87, doi:10.3372/wi.37.37103
  15. ↑ Peter Schütze, Helmut Freitag, Kurt Weising (2003): An integrated molecular and morphological study of the subfamily Suaedoideae Ulbr. (Chenopodiaceae). - Plant Systematics and Evolution, Volume 239, p. 257-286. abstract: doi:10.1007/s00606-003-0013-2

External links

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