Achyranthes avicularis

Taxonavigation

Taxonavigation: Caryophyllales
Classification System: APG IV Superregnum: Eukaryota Cladus: Diaphoretickes Cladus: CAM Cladus: Archaeplastida Regnum: Plantae Cladus: Angiosperms Cladus: Eudicots Cladus: Core eudicots Ordo: Caryophyllales

Familia: Amaranthaceae s.l.
Cladus: Amaranthaceae s.str.
Subfamilia: Amaranthoideae
Genus: Achyranthes
Species: Achyranthes avicularis

Name

Achyranthes avicularis E.Mey. ex Moq., Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 13(2): 311 (1849)

• Type: South Africa, near Durban Natal. Drège J.F. #s.n. Types: K K000243768, P P00487012, S S07-12302. Probable types: HBG502341, K000243767.

Synonyms

• Homotypic
  • Achyropsis avicularis (E.Mey. ex Moq.) Hook.f. in Bentham & Hooker (ed.), Gen. Pl. 3(1): 36. (1880) [as “acicularis “], nom. val. syn. sec. Di Vincenzo & al. (2024)
  • Achyropsis avicularis (E.Mey. ex Moq.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex B.D.Jacks., Index Kew. 1(1): 27 (1893), nom. inval. (as "acicularis")
  • Achyropsis avicularis (E.Mey. ex Moq.) T.Cooke & C.H.Wright, Fl. Cap. (Harvey) 5(1.2): 430. (1901), corrected name error
  • Centrostachys avicularis (E.Mey. ex Moq.) Standl., J. Washington Acad. Sci. 5: 75. (1915)

Distribution

Native distribution areas:
Africa Southern Africa KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Provinces References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition

References

Primary references

• Bentham, G. & Hooker, J.D. 1880. Genera Plantarum ad exemplaria imprimis in herbariis Kewensibus servata definita. Vol. 3, pars 1, sistens Dicotyledonum Monochlamydearum ordines XXXVI (Nyctagnieas – Ceratophylleas) et Gymnospermearum ordines III (Gnetaceas – Cycadaceas). A. Black, 459 pp. Londini [London]. BHL Reference page. 
• Cooke, T. & Wright, C.H. 1912. Amarantaceae. In: Thiselton-Dyer (ed.): Flora Capensis. Volume 5, part 1, pp. 402–433. BHL Reference page. 
• Jackson, B.D. 1893. Index Kewensis plantarum phanerogamarum. Nomina et synonyma omnium generum et specierum a Linnaeo usque ad annum MDCCCLXXXV complectens nomine recepto auctore patria unicuique plantae subjectis sumptibus beati Caroli Roberti Darwin ductu et consilio Josephi D. Hooker confecit B. Daydon Jackson. Tomus I, Fasc. I. Pp. 1–632. E Prelo Clarendoniano, Oxonii [Oxford]. BHL Reference page. 
• Moquin-Tandon, A. 1849. Amarantaceae. In: De Candolle, A.P. (ed.): Prodromus systematis naturalis regni vegetabilis 13(2): 231–424. Masson, Paris. BHL. Reference page. 
• Standley, P.C. 1915. The application of the generic name Achyranthes. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 5: 72–76. BHL Reference page. 

Additional references

• Di Vincenzo, V., Berendsohn, W., Wondafrash, M. & Borsch, T. 2025. Phylogenetics and morphological character evolution in the achyranthoid clade (Amaranthaceae): Evidence to re-circumscribe the genera Achyranthes and Cyathula and to resurrect a third species of the former genus Sericocomopsis in East Africa. Taxon 74(1): 66–100. DOI: 10.1002/tax.13284 Reference page. 

Links

• Govaerts, R. et al. 2025. Achyranthes avicularis in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2025 Nov. 27. Reference page. 
• International Plant Names Index. 2025. Achyranthes avicularis. Published online. Accessed: Nov. 27 2025. Reference page.