Amaranthus is a genus of plants commonly known as amaranths. Some species are known by variants of the common name "pigweed". Some members are annual and others are perennial. The plant can grow from 1 to 2.5 metres (3 to 8 feet) tall with a succulent, hollow stem. Parts of the plant vary from green to reddish. Catkin-like cymes of densely packed flowers grow in the summer or fall. There are 75 recognized species in the genus, some monoecious and some dioecious. The name amaranth was originally applied to the closely related genus Celosia. Amaranthus is cosmopolitan in tropical regions. Some species are cultivated as leaf vegetables, pseudocereals (with amaranth grain being collected), and ornamental plants.

Closest relatives