Acanthus (plant)

Acanthus
Acanthus montanus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Subfamily: Acanthoideae
Tribe: Acantheae
Genus: Acanthus
L.
Species

See text
Synonyms

Cheilopsis Moq.[1]

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.

Contents

Selected species

Cultivation and uses

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

  1. ^ "Acanthus L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2009-01-23. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?61. Retrieved 2010-06-19. 
  2. ^ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: A-C. CRC Press. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-8493-2675-2. http://books.google.com/books?id=esMPU5DHEGgC&. 
  3. ^ "Species Records of Acanthus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?61. Retrieved 2010-06-19. 

External links

 Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). "Acanthus". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.