Amaranthus, collectively known as amaranth, is a cosmopolitangenus of annual or short-lived perennial plants. Catkin-like cymes of densely packed flowers are borne in summer or autumn. Approximately 60 species are recognized, with inflorescences
and foliage ranging from purple and red to green or gold. Members of
this genus share many characteristics and uses with members of the
closely related genus Celosia.Amaranthus shows a wide variety of morphological diversity among and even within certain species. Although the family (Amaranthaceae) is distinctive, the genus has few distinguishing characters among the 70 species included. This complicates taxonomy and Amaranthus has generally been considered among systematists as a "difficult" genus.
