Acanthus (plant)
| Acanthus | |
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| Acanthus montanus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Acanthaceae |
| Subfamily: | Acanthoideae |
| Tribe: | Acantheae |
| Genus: | Acanthus L. |
| Species | |
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| Synonyms | |
Acanthus is a genus of about 30 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical and warm temperate regions, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean Basin and Asia. Common names include Acanthus and Bear's breeches. The generic name is derived from the Greek word ακανθος (acanthos), meaning "thorny."[2]
The genus comprises herbaceous perennial plants, rarely subshrubs, with spiny leaves and flower spikes bearing white or purplish flowers. Size varies from 0.4 to 2 m (1.3 to 6.6 ft) in height.
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Selected species [edit]
- Acanthus balcanicus Heywood & I.Richardson (Syn. Acanthus hungaricus (Borbás) Baenitz, Acanthus longifolius Host)
- Acanthus dioscoridis Willd.
- Acanthus ebracteatus Vahl
- Acanthus eminens C.B.Clarke
- Acanthus hirsutus Boiss.
- Acanthus ilicifolius L.
- Acanthus mollis L.
- Acanthus montanus T.Anders.
- Acanthus polystachyus Delile
- Acanthus spinosus L.
- Acanthus syriacus Boiss.[3]
Cultivation and uses [edit]
Several species, especially A. balcanicus, A. spinosus and A. mollis, are grown as ornamental plants.
Acanthus leaves were the aesthetic basis for Corinthian capitals; see acanthus (ornament).
References [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Acanthus |
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Wikispecies has information related to: Acanthus |
- ^ "Acanthus L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
- ^ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: A-C. CRC Press. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-8493-2675-2.
- ^ "Species Records of Acanthus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
External links [edit]
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Acanthus". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
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