The Amaranthaceae or amaranth family is widely distributed across tropical, sub-tropical and temperate regions of the world, but concentrated mainly in Africa, and Central and South America. It is a large family and contains between 70 and 160 genera and between 1000 and 2400 species. The APG II system includes the taxa that were formerly placed in the Chenopodiaceae, which accounts for the disparity in numbers of species and genera. Whether they are in the same family or not, they are certainly closely related. The leaves are simple, estipulate and generally entire. The flowers are usually small and frequently prickly due to the bristly perianth and bracts, they have 4-5 connate petals and are often subtended by bracts or bractlets. Some Amaranth species have grainlike edible seeds that were widely used in Central and South America. Many species are grown today as ornamentals.