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The family 'Acanthaceae' (or 'Acanthus family') is a taxon of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing almost 250 genera and about 2500 species.
Most are tropical herbs, shrubs, or twining vines; some are epiphytes. Only a few species are distributed in temperate regions. The four main centres of distribution are Indonesia and Malaysia, Africa, Brasil and Central America. The representatives of the family can be found in nearly every habitat, including dense or open forests, in scrublands, on wet fields and valleys, at the sea coast and in marine areas, and in swamps and as an element of mangrove woods.

Plants in this family have simple, opposite, decussate leaves with entire (or sometimes toothed, lobed, or spiny) margins, and without stipules. The leaves may contain cystoliths, or calcium carbonate concretions, seen as streaks on the surface. The flowers are perfect, zygomorphic to nearly actinomorphic, these arranged in an inflorescence that is either a spike, raceme, or cyme. Typically there is a colorful bract subtending each flower; in some species the bract is large and showy. The calyx is usually 4-5 lobed; the corolla tubular, 2-lipped or 5-lobed; stamens either 2 or 4 arranged in pairs and inserted on the corolla; and the ovary superior, 2-carpellate, with axile placentation. The fruit is a two-celled capsule, dehiscing somewhat explosively. In most species, the seeds are attached to a small, hooked stalk (a modified ''funiculus'' called a ''jaculator'') that ejects them from the capsule.
A species well-known to temperate gardeners is ''Acanthus mollis'' or Bear's breeches, a herbaceous perennial plant with big leaves and flower spikes up to 2 m tall. Tropical genera familiar to gardeners include ''Thunbergia'' and ''Justicia''.
''Avicennia'', usually placed in Verbenaceae or in its own family, Avicenniaceae, is included in Acanthaceae by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group on the basis of molecular phylogenetic studies that show it to be associated with this family.

Contents

Selected genera

Photo Gallery

References

External links

Selected genera

There are 246 accepted genera according to Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

★ ''Acanthopale'' C.B.Clarke ★ ''Acanthopsis'' Harv. ★ ''Acanthostelma'' Bidgood & Brummitt ★ ''Acanthura'' Lindau ★ ''Acanthus'' L. (Bear's Breech) ★ ''Achyrocalyx'' Benoist ★ ''Adhatoda'' Mill. (sometimes included in ''Justicia'') ★ ''Afrofittonia'' Lindau ★ ''Ambongia'' Benoist ★ ''Ancistranthus'' Lindau (Desert Honeysuckle) ★ ''Ancistrostylis'' T.Yamaz. ★ ''Andrographis'' Wall. ex Nees (False Waterwillow) ★ ''Angkalanthus'' Balf.f. ★ ''Anisacanthus'' Nees ★ ''Anisosepalum'' E.Hossain ★ ''Anisostachya'' Nees (sometimes included in ''Justicia'') ★ ''Anisotes'' Nees ★ ''Anomacanthus'' R.D.Good ★ ''Apassalus'' Kobuski ★ ''Aphanosperma'' T.F.Daniel ★ ''Aphelandra'' R.Br. ★ ''Aphelandrella'' Mildbr. ★ ''Ascotheca'' Heine ★ ''Asystasia'' Blume ★ ''Asystasiella'' Lindau ★ ''Ballochia'' Balf.f. ★ ''Barleria'' L. (Bush violets) ★ ''Barleriola'' Oerst. ★ ''Benoicanthus'' Heine & A.Raynal ★ ''Blechum'' P. Browne ★ ''Blepharis'' Juss. ★ ''Borneacanthus'' Bremek. ★ ''Boutonia'' DC. ★ ''Brachystephanus'' Nees ★ ''Bravaisia'' DC. ★ ''Brillantaisia'' P.Beauv. ★ ''Calacanthus'' T.Anderson ex Benth. & Hook. f. ★ ''Calophanoides'' (C.B.Clarke) Ridl. (sometimes included in ''Justicia'') ★ ''Calycacanthus'' K. Schum. ★ ''Camarotea'' Scott-Elliot ★ ''Carlowrightia'' A.Gray (Wrightwort) ★ ''Celerina'' Benoist ★ ''Cephalacanthus'' Lindau ★ ''Chaetacanthus'' Nees ★ ''Chalarothyrsus'' Lindau ★ ''Chamaeranthemum'' Nees ★ ''Championella'' Bremek. ★ ''Chileranthemum'' Oerst. ★ ''Chlamydacanthus'' Lindau (sometimes included in ''Theileamea'') ★ ''Chlamydocardia'' Lindau ★ ''Chlamydostachya'' Mildbr. ★ ''Chroesthes'' Benoist ★ ''Clinacanthus'' Nees ★ ''Clistax'' Mart. ★ ''Codonacanthus'' Nees ★ ''Conocalyx'' Benoist ★ ''Corymbostachys'' Lindau ★ ''Cosmianthemum'' Bremek. ★ ''Crabbea'' Harv. ★ ''Crossandra'' Salisb. ★ ''Crossandrella'' C.B.Clarke ★ ''Cyclacanthus'' S.Moore ★ ''Cylindrosolenium'' Lindau ★ ''Cyphacanthus'' Leonard ★ ''Dactylostegium'' Nees (sometimes included in ''Dicliptera'') ★ ''Danguya'' Benoist ★ ''Dasytropis'' Urb. ★ ''Dichazothece'' Lindau ★ ''Dicladanthera'' F. Muell. ★ ''Dicliptera'' Juss. (Foldwing) ★ ''Didyplosandra'' Wight ex Bremek. ★ ''Dipteracanthus'' Nees (sometimes included in ''Ruellia'') ★ ''Dischistocalyx'' T.Anderson ex Benth. & Hook.f. ★ ''Dolichostachys'' Benoist ★ ''Drejera'' Nees ★ ''Drejerella'' Lindau (sometimes included in ''Justicia'') ★ ''Duosperma'' Dayton ★ ''Dyschoriste'' Nees (Snakeherb) ★ ''Ecbolium'' Kurz ★ ''Echinacanthus'' Nees ★ ''Elytraria'' Michx. (Scalystem) ★ ''Encephalosphaera'' Lindau ★ ''Epiclastopelma'' Lindau ★ ''Eranthemum'' L. ★ ''Eremomastax'' Lindau ★ ''Eusiphon'' Benoist ★ ''Filetia'' Miq. ★ ''Fittonia'' Coem. ★ ''Forcipella'' Baill. ★ ''Forsythiopsis'' Baker (sometimes included in ''Oplonia'') ★ ''Geissomeria'' Lindl. ★ ''Glossochilus'' Nees ★ ''Golaea'' Chiov. ★ ''Graphandra'' J.B.Imlay ★ ''Graptophyllum'' Nees ★ ''Gymnophragma'' Lindau ★ ''Gymnostachyum'' Nees ★ ''Gynocraterium'' Bremek. ★ ''Gypsacanthus'' E.J.Lott et al. ★ ''Haplanthodes'' Kuntze ★ ''Harpochilus'' Nees ★ ''Hemiadelphis'' Nees ★ ''Hemigraphis'' Nees (sometimes included in ''Strobilanthes'') ★ ''Henrya'' Nees ★ ''Herpetacanthus'' Nees ★ ''Heteradelphia'' Lindau ★ ''Holographis'' Nees ★ ''Hoverdenia'' Nees ★ ''Hulemacanthus'' S.Moore ★ ''Hygrophila'' R.Br. (Swampweed) ★ ''Hypoestes'' Sol. ex R.Br. ★ ''Ionacanthus'' Benoist ★ ''Isoglossa'' Oerst. ★ ''Isotheca'' Turrill ★ ''Jadunia'' Lindau ★ ''Juruasia'' Lindau ★ ''Justicia'' L. (Justica, Water-willow, Shrimp plant) ★ ''Kalbreyeriella'' Lindau ★ ''Kosmosiphon'' Lindau ★ ''Kudoacanthus'' Hosok. ★ ''Lankesteria'' Lindl. ★ ''Lasiocladus'' Bojer ex Nees ★ ''Leandriella'' Benoist

★ ''Lepidagathis'' Willd. ★ ''Leptostachya'' Nees ★ ''Liberatia'' Rizzini (sometimes included in ''Lophostachys'') ★ ''Linariantha'' B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm. ★ ''Lophostachys'' Pohl ★ ''Louteridium'' S.Watson ★ ''Lychniothyrsus'' Lindau ★ ''Marcania'' J.B.Imlay ★ ''Megalochlamys'' Lindau ★ ''Megalostoma'' Leonard ★ ''Megaskepasma'' Lindau ★ ''Melittacanthus'' S.Moore ★ ''Mellera'' S. Moore ★ ''Mendoncia'' Vand. ★ ''Metarungia'' Baden ★ ''Mexacanthus'' T.F.Daniel ★ ''Meyenia'' Nees ★ ''Mimulopsis'' Schweinf. ★ ''Mirandea'' Rzed. ★ ''Monechma'' Hochst. (sometimes included in ''Justicia'') ★ ''Monothecium'' Hochst. ★ ''Morsacanthus'' Rizzini ★ ''Nelsonia'' R.Br. ★ ''Neohallia'' Hemsl. ★ ''Neriacanthus'' Benth. ★ ''Neuracanthus'' Nees ★ ''Odontonema'' Nees (Toothedthread) ★ ''Ophiorrhiziphyllon'' Kurz ★ ''Oplonia'' Raf. ★ ''Oreacanthus'' Benth. ★ ''Orophochilus'' Lindau ★ ''Pachystachys'' Nees ★ ''Pelecostemon'' Leonard ★ ''Pentstemonacanthus'' Nees ★ ''Perenideboles'' Ram. (Goyena) ★ ''Pericalypta'' Benoist ★ ''Periestes'' Baill. ★ ''Peristrophe'' Nees ★ ''Petalidium'' Nees ★ ''Phaulopsis'' Willd. ★ ''Phialacanthus'' Benth. ★ ''Phidiasia'' Urb. ★ ''Phlogacanthus'' Nees ★ ''Physacanthus'' Benth. ★ ''Podorungia'' Baill. ★ ''Poikilacanthus'' Lindau ★ ''Polylychnis'' Bremek. ★ ''Populina'' Baill. ★ ''Pranceacanthus'' Wassh. ★ ''Pseuderanthemum'' Radlk. ★ ''Pseudocalyx'' Radlk. ★ ''Pseudodicliptera'' Benoist ★ ''Pseudoruellia'' Benoist ★ ''Psilanthele'' Lindau ★ ''Ptyssiglottis'' T.Anderson ★ ''Pulchranthus'' V.M.Baum et al. ★ ''Pupilla'' Rizzini (sometimes included in ''Justicia'') ★ ''Razisea'' Oerst. ★ ''Rhinacanthus'' Nees ★ ''Rhombochlamys'' Lindau ★ ''Ritonia'' Benoist ★ ''Rostellularia'' Rchb. (sometimes included in ''Justicia'') ★ ''Ruellia'' L. (Wild Petunia) ★ ''Ruelliopsis'' C.B.Clarke ★ ''Rungia'' Nees ★ ''Ruspolia'' Lindau ★ ''Ruttya'' Harv. ★ ''Saintpauliopsis'' Staner (sometimes included in ''Staurogyne'') ★ ''Salpinctium'' T.J.Edwards ★ ''Salpixantha'' Hook. ★ ''Samuelssonia'' Urb. & Ekman ★ ''Sanchezia'' Ruiz & Pav. ★ ''Santapaua'' N.P.Balakr. & Subr. (sometimes included in ''Hygrophila'') ★ ''Sapphoa'' Urb. ★ ''Satanocrater'' Schweinf. ★ ''Sautiera'' Decne. ★ ''Schaueria'' Nees ★ ''Schwabea'' Endl. & Fenzl ★ ''Sclerochiton'' Harv. ★ ''Sebastiano-schaueria'' Nees ★ ''Sericospora'' Nees ★ ''Siphonoglossa'' Oerst. (Tubetongue) ★ ''Spathacanthus'' Baill. ★ ''Sphacanthus'' Benoist ★ ''Sphinctacanthus'' Benth. ★ ''Spirostigma'' Nees ★ ''Standleyacanthus'' Leonard ★ ''Staurogyne'' Wall. ★ ''Steirosanchezia'' Lindau ★ ''Stenandriopsis'' S. Moore ★ ''Stenandrium'' Nees (Shaggytuft) ★ ''Stenostephanus'' Nees ★ ''Streblacanthus'' Kuntze ★ ''Streptosiphon'' Mildbr. ★ ''Strobilanthes'' Blume ★ ''Strobilanthopsis'' S.Moore ★ ''Styasasia'' S.Moore ★ ''Suessenguthia'' Merxm. ★ ''Synchoriste'' Baill. ★ ''Taeniandra'' Bremek. ★ ''Tarphochlamys'' Bremek. ★ ''Teliostachya'' Nees ★ ''Tessmanniacanthus'' Mildbr. ★ ''Tetramerium'' Nees ★ ''Theileamea'' Baill. ★ ''Thomandersia'' Baill. also placed within its own family Thomandersiaceae by Wortley ''et al.'' 2007 [1] ★ ''Thunbergia'' Retz. ★ ''Thysanostigma'' J.B.Imlay ★ ''Tremacanthus'' S. Moore ★ ''Triaenanthus'' Nees ★ ''Trichanthera'' Kunth ★ ''Trichaulax'' Vollesen ★ ''Trichocalyx'' Balf.f. ★ ''Trichosanchezia'' Mildbr. ★ ''Ulleria'' Bremek. (sometimes included in ''Ruellia'') ★ ''Vavara'' Benoist ★ ''Vindasia'' Benoist ★ ''Warpuria'' Stapf ★ ''Whitfieldia'' Hook. ★ ''Xantheranthemum'' Lindau ★ ''Xerothamnella'' C.T.White ★ ''Yeatesia'' Small (Bractspike) ★ ''Zygoruellia'' Baill.

Photo Gallery

References

1. On the Taxonomy and Phylogenetic Position of Thomandersia., , Harris, D.J. & Scotland, R.W., Wortley, A.H., Systematic Botany, 2007


★ Phylogenetic relationships of the mangrove family ''Avicenniaceae'' based on chloroplast and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences, Schwarzbach, Andrea E. and McDade, Lucinda A., , , Systematic Botany, 2002

External links

★ Acanthaceae in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, information retrieval.

★ Tree of Life Acanthaceae