achyranthes

[Gr. ἄχυρον (achuron) = chaff; άνθος ( anthos ) = a blo om, a flower. The name refers to the chaffy nature of the floral envelopes.] A genus of plants belonging to the order Amaranth aceæ, or Amaranths. About thirty species are known, all from the hotter parts of the Old World, whence a few have spread to America. They are sometimes climbing trees or shrubs, but most are mere weeds. A. aspera and A. fruticosa are used in India in cases of dropsy; A. virid is as a poultice.