Universal Journal of Plant Science 8(1): 1-10, 2020 http://www.hrpub.org DOI: 10.13189/ujps.2020.080101 A Comparative Morphological Study on Amaranthus spinosus L., Celosia argentea L. and Gomphrena celosioides Mart (AMARANTHACEAE) N. F. Okeke1,*, C. V. Ilodibia1, B. E. Okoli2 1Department of Botany, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria 2Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria Received October 12, 2019; Revised December 16, 2019; Accepted December 25, 2019 Copyright©2020 by authors, all rights reserved. Authors agree that this article remains permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License Abstract A comparative morphological study on and two bractlets that commonly are scarious or Amaranthus spinosus, Celosia argentea and Gomphrena membranous. The leaves of some members of this family celosioides was evaluated and compared to determine their are used as vegetable; examples are Amaranthus hybridus, taxonomic morphological characters that delimit them as Amaranthus spinosus and Celosia argentea. Some are members of the family Amaranthaceae. This was done by raised as cereals in tropical Asia e.g A. cruentus, A. use of hand lens and visual observations of the plants parts. frumentacea and A. caudatus. Some are grown as Results showed similarities in their possession of simple ornamentals e.g. Alternanthera, Gomphrena, Aerva and leaves, small flowers, inflorescence as spike, being Celosia (cock’s comb). Achyranthus aspera plants are used herbaceous with woody base, having pentamerous as an antidote for poison of snakes and scorpions [1]. Plants perianths and stamens, exstipulate and presence of pinkish from the Amaranthaceae are used in folk medicine for their pigment in any of the plant parts, while they differed in the nutritional qualities and for the treatment of various possession of spines by Amaranthus spinosus and disorders such as gastrointestinal and respiratory problems, trichomes by Gomphrena celosioides. Information from skin infections as well as some infectious diseases and as this study is valuable for taxonomic characterisation and an abortifacient [2]. Amaranthus spinosus L., Celosia identification of the plant species in the family argentea L. and Gomphrena celosioides Mart. which are Amaranthaceae. Their possession of pinkish pigment in among the species commonly found in south eastern any of the parts shows that they can be a source of vitamin Nigeria are the points of interest in this research. A since lycopene responsible for that pinkish character has Amaranthus spinosus Linn. the same structure as carotene. Amaranthus spinosus is an erect prickly annual herb up to 60cm high and reproducing from seeds. The stem is Keywords Amaranthaceae, Amaranthus spinosus, fleshy, round and hairless, greenish but sometimes reddish Celosia argentea, Gomphrena celosioides, Comparative, and always with rigid, sharp pointed spines about 10mm Morphology, Delimitation long. The leaves are alternate, ovate to broadly-lanceolate, 6-8cm long and 2-4cm broad, tapering into slender petioles about 7cm long beneath which are the spines. The inflorescence consists of long terminal and short axillary 1. Introduction spikes. The flowers are small, greenish and occur in clusters with male flower at the top and the female flowers The family Amaranthaceae contains 65 genera and 900 below. The fruit is a one seeded capsule with shiny, species, mainly in the tropics and subtropics, often lens-shaped reddish –brown seeds [3]. The seed is used as a occurring as weeds or escapes from cultivation. In West poultice for broken bones [4]. The plant is astringent, Africa, it is represented by 14 genera and 37 species [1]. diaphoretic, diuretic, emollient, febrifuge and galactagogue The leaves are alternate or opposite, simple, exstipulate and [5]. It is used internally in the treatment of internal bleeding, generally entire. The flowers are bisexual, or unisexual, diarrhoea and excessive menstruation [4]. It is also used in typically very small and frequently prickly due to bristly the treatment of snake bites [4].Applied externally, it is perianth and bracts. Each flower is subtended by a bract used to treat ulcerated mouths, vaginal discharges, 2 A Comparative Morphological Study on Amaranthus spinosus L.,Celosia argentea L. and Gomphrena celosioides Mart (AMARANTHACEAE) nosebleeds and a range of skin problems including wounds, celosioides is prevalently used among the rural people of eczema, boils and burns [4].The root is diuretic, West Africa to treat a wide variety of ailments. It is used in emmenagogue, febrifuge and galactagogue.The juice of the ethno medical practice in Nigeria for treatment of various root is used in Nepal to treat fevers, urinary troubles, skin diseases, worm infections and infectious diseases [9]. diarrhoea and dysentery [5]. It is also used, often combined In South America, the plant is used as an abortifacient [10]. with the root juice of Dichrophela integra and Rubus A system of classification of biological organisms which ellipticus, to treat stomach disorders and, on its own, to best reflects the totality of their similarities and differences treat indigestion and vomiting that occur after eating is termed taxonomy, [1]. To classify plants, taxonomists unusual foods [5]. make use of morphology, phylogeny, physiology, Celosia argentea L. is a leafy vegetable crop. It is one of phytochemistry, anatomy, cytology, palynology as the most versatile herbaceous plants characterized with fast taxonomic lines of evidence to determine their similarities growth. It has erect stem with alternate leaves and few and differences in order to group them into various taxa branches. The inflorescence is found at the tip of stems. [11]. According to Radford [12], the morphological data of The larger pink appendages of the central open flower plants are easily observable and obtainable, and are “thus comprise the calyx. The pink rimmed, white crown-like used most frequently in taxonomic studies”. The evidence structure bearing anthers is the androecium. The pistil with from external morphology provides the “basic Language its green ovary and pink style can be seen in the center of for plant characterization, identification, classification and the flower. The bracts and bractlets, smaller than the relationships” [12]. Angiosperms are identified by flowers in this case, are best seen in association with the morphological characters. Natural groups are defined unopened flower. It is propagated by seed; the seedlings mainly with the help of floral characters [13]. The basic emerge 5-7 days after sowing and flowering 6-7 weeks similarity in the morphology of flowers, fruits and seeds after sowing [6]. Pollination is by wind and insects within different species, genera, families and orders especially bees and flies which visit the flowers regularly. provides a sound base in characterizing taxonomic groups. Seed maturity starts from the basal part of the inflorescence Morphology provides majority of the characters used in the and gradually moves up to the tip. Seeds get matured in construction of systems of taxonomy. Therefore, 10-16 weeks after sowing. The flowers and seed are morphology is closely related to taxonomy and would astringent, haemostatic, ophthalmic, parasiticide and continue to reign over it for many more years to come [13]. poultice [7]. They are used in the treatment of bloody stool, Determination of differences and similarities with regards haemorrhoid bleeding, uterine bleeding, leucorrhoea, to morphology of the three species based on the outcome of dysentery and diarrhoea [7]. As a parasiticide it is very the study were the objectives of this research. effective against Trichomonas, a 20% extract can cause the Trichomonas to disappear in 15 minutes [7]. The seed is hypotensive and ophthalmic. It also has an antibacterial 2. Materials and Methods action, inhibiting the growth of Pseudomonas [7]. It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, bloodshot eyes, blurring of 2.1. Procurement and Identification of Plant Materials vision, cataracts and hypertension, but should not be used by people with glaucoma because it dilates the pupils. The The plant species: Amaranthus spinosus, Celosia seeds are widely used in India for the treatment of diabetes argentea and Gomphrena celosioides were collected mellitus [8]. The roots are used in the treatment of colic, between April-May 2016 within the premises of Nnamdi gonorrhoea and eczema [7]. It is used traditionally for the Azikiwe University Awka (6o 12N/, 7o 04E/) Anambra treatment of jaundice, gonorrhea, wounds and fever. The State. The samples were authenticated and given voucher leaves are used for the treatment of inflammations, fever number by a taxonomist in the Department of Botany, and itching [7]. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Gomphrena celosioides is a hairy, decumbent annual or perennial about 20cm high with woody tap root and 2.2. Morphological Studies reproducing from seeds. The stem is slender, weak, contracted at the nodes, the upper portion beset with white Observations on vegetative characteristics were studied pilose hairs. The leaves are opposite, oblong or lanceolate, using samples collected from mature plant. For the leaves, 3-5cm long and 1.0-1.15cm broad, without petioles but the third and fourth fully opened leaves from the stem tip with white moderately stiff hairs on the leaf surface. The were used. A meter rule was used to measure the petiole inflorescence consists of shortly cylindrical spikes about length, leaf length and leaf base. The plant height and stem 2cm long and 1cm across, and they occur at stem tips. The girth was measured using a tape rule, while the leaf texture, flowers are yellow and inconspicuous and are subtended by leaf shape, leaf margin, stem colour, leaf arrangement, leaf white, ovate bracts that are somewhat toothed. The fruits type, and leaf venation were studied by keen observation are indehiscent and one-seeded and the seeds are flat [3]. G. (This is as outlined by [14]. Universal Journal of Plant Science 8(1): 1-10, 2020 3 3. Results near the mid rib when young but the red patches disappeared as it gets older (figs.