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Balkwill, K. & Welman, W.G. (2000) Acanthaceae. In Leistner, O.A. Seed plants of southern Africa: families and genera. Strelitzia 10 34-45
Darbyshire, I., Vollesen, K. & Kelbessa, E. (2010) Acanthaceae (Part 2) Flora of Tropical East Africa Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Darbyshire, I., Vollesen, K. & Kelbessa, E. (2015) Acanthaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 8(6)
Leistner, O.A. (2005) Seed plants of southern tropical Africa: families and genera SABONET Report No. 26 SABONET, Pretoria
Vollesen, K. (2009) Acanthaceae (Part 1) Flora of Tropical East Africa
Vollesen, K. (2013) Acanthaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 8(5)
Small trees, herbs, shrubs or sometimes climbers. Stipules 0. Leaves opposite, usually entire, less often toothed. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic or zygomorphic. Bracts and bracteoles usually present. Calyx 4-5-partite, rarely 2-lipped or with 10-18 teeth (Thunbergia). Corolla gamopetalous, 1-2-lipped or 5-lobed. Stamens 2 or 4, inserted on corolla. Anthers 1- or 2-thecous, with thecae together or one above the other. Ovary superior, 2-locular with (1-)2(-3 or more) ovules in each loculus. Fruit a loculicidal capsule, often explosively dehiscent. Comment: This large family with attractive and colourful flowers always catches one's eye in the field. For many years, up-to-date information was hard to come by; however, recently both parts of Flora Zambesiaca have come out and information about the family is now available. Worldwide: 229 genera and 3450 species, mostly tropical. Zimbabwe: 27 cultivated genera and 57 cultivated taxa. |
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Genus | Content |
Acanthus L. | Description, Image |
Anisacanthus Nees | |
Aphelandra R. Br. | Description |
Asystasia Blume | Description |
Barleria L. | Description |
Brillantaisia P. Beauv. | Description, Image |
Crossandra Salisb. | Description |
Dicliptera Juss. | Description |
Dyschoriste Nees | Description, Image |
Eranthemum L. | Description |
Graptophyllum Nees | Description |
Hypoestes Sol. ex R.Br. | Description |
Justicia L. | Description, Image |
Mackaya Harv. | Description, Image |
Megaskepasma Lindau | Description, Image |
Odontonema Nees | Description, Image |
Pachystachys Nees | Description, Image |
Petalidium Nees | Description |
Pseuderanthemum Radlk. | Description, Image |
Ruellia L. | Description |
Ruspolia Lindau | Description |
Ruttya Harv. | Description, Image |
Sanchezia Ruiz. & Pav. | Description |
Strobilanthes Blume | Description, Image |
Thunbergia Retz. | Description, Image |
Whitfieldia Hook. | Description, Image |
x Ruttyruspolia A. Meeuse & De Wet | Description, Image |
Home | > | List of cultivated families | > | Acanthaceae |