Joyweed Family: AMARANTHACEAE (CARYOPHYLLIDAE) in Australia

Flower Families

Don Herbison-Evans, (donherbisonevans@yahoo.com) & Christine Ashe

Plant Classes

Alternanthera dentata Little Ruby Sydney, February 2007	Alternanthera denticulata Lesser Joyweed Wyee, February 2007	Amaranthus caudatus Love Lies Bleeding Sydney, January 2008	Amaranthus dubius Red Spinach Sydney, May 2012
Amaranthus gangeticus Chinese Spinach Lidcombe, August 2006	Amaranthus hypochondriacus Prince's Feather Concord, December 2006	Amaranthus viridis Pigweed Wyee, February 2007	Celosia cristata Cockscomb Sydney, December 2006
Gomphrena globosa Bachelor's Buttons Strathfield, February 2007	Iresine herbstii Bloodleaf Sydney, September 2006	Ptilotus exaltatus Lambs Tails Annuello, Victoria Photo: courtesy of Laura Levens	Ptilotus obovatus Smoke Bush Flinders Ranges, July 2009

Ptilotus polystachyus Long Tails Dulkaninna Station, SA. Photo: courtesy of Laura Levens

Ptilotus spathulatus Pussy Tails Bronzewing Reserve, Victoria Photo: courtesy of Laura Levens

Tecticornia verrucosa Claypan Samphire Newhaven Reserve, Northern Territory Photo: courtesy of Barbara Gilfedder

Some polyphagous caterpillars of Lepidoptera in Australia have been reported to feed on plants in AMARANTHACEAE, including:

Zizeeria karsandra

Arcola malloi

Ostrinia furnacalis

Coenotes arida

Coenotes eremophilae

Hymenia perspectalis

Spoladea recurvalis

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Australian butterflies

Australian Lepidoptera

Australian moths

(updated 19 September 2012, 2 May 2025)