[FTEA]
Acanthaceae (part 1), Kaj Vollesen, Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2008
- Morphology General Habit
- Herbs, shrubs, twiners or (rarely) trees; branches often angled or ridged, with a usually distinct transverse ridge at nodes.
- Morphology Stem
- Stems and leaves often with cystoliths (linear intercellular calcium carbonate concretions) looking like small white streaks or rods.
- Morphology Leaves
- Leaves opposite, rarely whorled or in rosettes, without stipules.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
- Inflorescences of single flowers or dichasia or cymules which are often aggregated into axillary and/or terminal paniculate to racemoid cymes; bracts from foliaceous to distinctly differentiated or minute; bracteoles usually present.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
- Flowers nearly actinomorphic to zygomorphic, bisexual.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
- Calyx 4–5-lobed (or in Thunbergioideae a subentire to undulate rim or of 10–20 irregular lobes), fused at least at base, with equal to unequal lobes or distinctly 2-lipped.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
- Corolla sympetalous, with a narrow basal tube widening into a more or less distinct throat, limb from almost regularly 5-lobed to distinctly 2-lipped, more rarely 1-lipped, lobes imbricate or contorted in bud.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
- Stamens 4, usually didynamous, or 2 and then with or without 2–3 staminodes, attached at base of throat or in narrow corolla tube, basal part of filaments often connate in two pairs; anthers 2- or 1-thecous, thecae usually parallel attached at same height or one above the other, at base rounded, mucronate to apiculate or with distinct appendages or spurs, dehiscing longitudinally (rarely with apical or basal pores).
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
- Ovary superior, 2-locular, at base surrounded by an annular disc, with 2 collateral ( Thunbergioideae) or with 2–28 superposed ovules per locule; style simple, filiform, with 2 linear (one often reduced) to oblong or ovoid or capitate stigmatic lobes.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
- Fruit a 2-locular loculicidal capsule (rarely a drupe), usually explosively dehiscent, the placentae sometimes separating from the capsule wall on opening.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
- Seeds 1 to over 20 per locule, held on thickened curved laterally compressed hook-shaped outgrowths (retinaculae) from the funicle (retinaculae papilliform in Nelsonioideae and absent in Thunbergioideae), discoid to spheroid, reniform or cordiform to subglobose, surface often covered in hygroscopic hairs or glabrous and then smooth or variously sculptured.
- Distribution
- Range: In the Flora area 50 genera and 550–600 species. Range: About 250 genera and 2500–3000 species widely distributed in all tropical and subtropical regions, extending sparingly into warm temperate zones in Europe and Asia and as far north as Canada in temperate North America. Range: The largest diversity at both genus and species level is in the dry woodland, bushland and grassland regions of tropical and southern Africa, Madagascar, India and Central and South America.
- Note
- The system used for arranging the genera here is an amalgam of those outlined by Bremekamp in Bull. India 7: 21–30 (1965), Scotland & Vollesen in Kew Bull. 55: 513–589 (2000) and Manktelow et al in Syst. Bot. 26: 104–119 (2001).
[FWTA]
Acanthaceae, H. Heine. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963
- Morphology General Habit
- Herbaceous or climbing, rarely somewhat shrubby
- Morphology Leaves
- Leaves opposite, often with distinct cystoliths; stipules absent
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
- Flowers hermaphrodite, zygomorphic, often with conspicuous bracts
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
- Calyx-segments or lobes 4 or 5, imbricate or valvate; rarely the calyx reduced to a ring
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
- Corolla gamopetalous, 2-lipped or sometimes 1-lipped, lobes imbricate or contorted
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium
- Stamens 4, didynamous or 2, inserted on the corolla-tube and alternate with its lobes; filaments free amongst themselves or partially connate in pairs; anthers 2-celled or 1-celled by reduction, cells confluent or separated, sometimes one much smaller than the other, opening lengthwise
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Nectaries
- Disk present
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium
- Ovary superior, sessile on the disk, 2-celled
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
- Capsule mostly elastically dehiscent from the apex downwards, the valves recurved and leaving the central axis
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
- Seeds mostly with indurated funicle; endosperm rarely present; embryo large
- Diagnostic
- Recognised by the usually herbaceous habit, opposite leaves and the peculiar capsule
[FWTA]
Avicenniaceae, F.N. Hepper. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963
- Morphology General Habit
- Shrubs or trees, branches terete
- Morphology Leaves
- Leaves opposite and decussate, simple, entire; stipules absent
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
- Inflorescences axillary or terminal; flowers sessile, hermaphrodite, actinomorphic
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
- Calyx very deeply 5-lobed, lobes imbricate, subtended by a pseudo-involucre composed of a scale-like bractlet and 2 alternate scale-like prophylla
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
- Corolla gamopetalous, campanulate-rotate, actinomorphic, deeply 4-lobed
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium
- Stamens 4, inserted in throat of the corolla-tube, equal or subdidynamous
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium
- Ovules 4, pendulous Style shortly divided Ovary superior, with 2 united carpels, placenta free, central
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
- Fruit dehiscent by 2 valves, usually only 1 seed develops
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
- Seed with 2 cotyledons, embryo viviparous
[FZ]
Flora Zambesiaca. Vol 8, Pt 7. Avicenniaceae, R. Fernandes. Nesogenaceae, M.A. Diniz. Verbenaceae, R. Fernandes. Lamiaceae, R. Fernandes. 2005.
- Morphology General
- Glabrous (or canescent) evergreen small trees of mangrove swamps, with extensive widely-spreading root systems bearing pneumatophores
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
- Inflorescences terminal or axillary, of contracted cymes at the end of short peduncles Inflorescences terminal or axillary, of contracted cymes at the end of short peduncles
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
- Flowers actinomorphic, hermaphrodite, sessile, subtended by an involucre formed by a bract and two bracteoles Flowers actinomorphic, hermaphrodite, sessile, subtended by an involucre formed by a bract and two bracteoles
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
- Calyx gamosepalous, deeply 5-lobed with lobes imbricate Calyx gamosepalous, deeply 5-lobed with lobes imbricate
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
- Corolla gamopetalous, campanulate or campanulate-rotate; tube short; limb 4(5)-lobed, spreading, with subequal lobes or the posterior lobe slightly broader Corolla gamopetalous, campanulate or campanulate-rotate; tube short; limb 4(5)-lobed, spreading, with subequal lobes or the posterior lobe slightly broader
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
- Stamens 4, inserted in the corolla throat and alternating with the lobes, equal or sub-didynamous; filaments ± short, filiform; anthers ovoid or suborbicular, subexserted
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
- Ovary superior, 2-carpellate, but appearing 4-locular due to ovary wall intrusions (false septa); placenta free, axile; style 1 short, bifid or bilobed, with apical stigmas; ovules 4, with 1 each apparent locule, pendent, orthotropous
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
- Seed without a testa; embryo with large longitudinally folded cotyledons and a villous radicle, viviparous; endosperm fleshy. Seed without a testa; embryo with large longitudinally folded cotyledons and a villous radicle, viviparous; endosperm fleshy
- Note
- Usually treated as a subfamily of the Verbenaceae , it is here recognized as a separate family readily distinguished by the involucre of 1 bract and 2 bracteoles which subtend each flower, the free-central placentation with a c. 4-winged placenta, the orthotropous ovules and by the viviparous embryo and fleshy endosperm. Molecular evidence now places it near the more basal Acanthaceae , with which it shares few essential morphological characters. [A.E. Schwarzbach & L.A. Mc Dade. Phylogenetic relationships of the mangrove family Avicenniaceae based on chloroplast and nuclear chromosomal DNA sequences. Systematic Botany 27 : 84–98 (2002)].
- Distribution
- A monogeneric family of the Old and New World tropics and subtropics.
- Morphology General Habit
- Glabrous (or canescent) evergreen small trees of mangrove swamps, with extensive widely-spreading root systems bearing pneumatophores
- Morphology Leaves
- Leaves simple, decussate, petiolate, without stipules; lamina entire, pulverulent (powdery)-puberulent or felted-tomentellous on lower surface, ± coriaceous Leaves simple, decussate, petiolate, without stipules; lamina entire, pulverulent (powdery)-puberulent or felted-tomentellous on lower surface, ± coriaceous
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium
- Stamens 4, inserted in the corolla throat and alternating with the lobes, equal or sub-didynamous; filaments ± short, filiform; anthers ovoid or suborbicular, subexserted
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium
- Ovary superior, 2-carpellate, but appearing 4-locular due to ovary wall intrusions (false septa); placenta free, axile; style 1 short, bifid or bilobed, with apical stigmas; ovules 4, with 1 in each apparent locule, pendent, orthotropous
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
- Fruit a capsule, l-seeded (by abortion of 3 ovules), usually asymmetric, compressed, opening by 2(4) thickened valves Fruit a capsule, l-seeded (by abortion of 3 ovules), usually asymmetric, compressed, opening by 2(4) thickened valves
- Acanthopale C.B.Clarke
- Acanthopsis Harv.
- Acanthus L.
- Achyrocalyx Benoist
- Afrofittonia Lindau
- Ambongia Benoist
- Ancistranthus Lindau
- Andrographis Wall. ex Nees
- Angkalanthus Balf.f.
- Anisacanthus Nees
- Anisosepalum E.Hossain
- Anisostachya Nees
- Anisotes Nees
- Anomacanthus R.D.Good
- Aphanosperma T.F.Daniel
- Aphelandra R.Br.
- Ascotheca Heine
- Asystasia Blume
- Avicennia L.
- Ballochia Balf.f.
- Barleria L.
- Barleriola Oerst.
- Blepharis Juss.
- Borneacanthus Bremek.
- Boutonia DC.
- Brachystephanus Nees
- Bravaisia DC.
- Brillantaisia P.Beauv.
- Brunoniella Bremek.
- Calacanthus T.Anderson ex Benth.
- Calycacanthus K.Schum.
- Camarotea Elliot
- Carlowrightia A.Gray
- Celerina Benoist
- Cephalacanthus Lindau
- Cephalophis Vollesen
- Chalarothyrsus Lindau
- Chamaeranthemum Nees
- Champluviera I.Darbysh., T.F.Daniel & Kiel
- Chileranthemum Oerst.
- Chlamydacanthus Lindau
- Chlamydocardia Lindau
- Chorisochora Vollesen
- Chroesthes Benoist
- Clinacanthus Nees
- Clistax Mart.
- Codonacanthus Nees
- Conocalyx Benoist
- Cosmianthemum Bremek.
- Crabbea Harv.
- Crossandra Salisb.
- Crossandrella C.B.Clarke
- Cuenotia Rizzini
- Cyclacanthus S.Moore
- Cynarospermum Vollesen
- Cyphacanthus Leonard
- Dasytropis Urb.
- Dianthera L.
- Diceratotheca J.R.I.Wood & Scotland
- Dichazothece Lindau
- Dicladanthera F.Muell.
- Dicliptera Juss.
- Dinteracanthus C.B.Clarke ex Schinz
- Dischistocalyx T.Anderson ex Benth.
- Duosperma Dayton
- Dyschoriste Nees
- Ecbolium Kurz
- Echinacanthus Nees
- Elytraria Michx.
- Encephalosphaera Lindau
- Eranthemum L.
- Eremomastax Lindau
- Filetia Miq.
- Fittonia Coem.
- Forcipella Baill.
- Glossochilus Nees
- Graphandra Imlay
- Graptophyllum Nees
- Gymnophragma Lindau
- Gymnostachyum Nees
- Gypsacanthus E.J.Lott, V.Jaram. & Rzed.
- Haplanthodes Kuntze
- Haplanthus Nees
- Harpochilus Nees
- Hemigraphis Nees
- Henrya Nees
- Herpetacanthus Nees
- Heteradelphia Lindau
- Holographis Nees
- Hoverdenia Nees
- Hulemacanthus S.Moore
- Hygrophila R.Br.
- Hypoestes Sol. ex R.Br.
- Ichthyostoma Hedrén & Vollesen
- Isoglossa Oerst.
- Isotheca Turrill
- Jadunia Lindau
- Justicia L.
- Kalbreyeriella Lindau
- Kenyacanthus I.Darbysh. & Kiel
- Kosmosiphon Lindau
- Kudoacanthus Hosok.
- Lankesteria Lindl.
- Lasiocladus Bojer ex Nees
- Leandriella Benoist
- Lepidagathis Willd.
- Leptosiphonium F.Muell.
- Liberatia Rizzini
- Linariantha B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm.
- Louteridium S.Watson
- Mackaya Harv.
- Marcania J.B.Imlay
- Mcdadea E.A.Tripp & I.Darbysh.
- Megalochlamys Lindau
- Megaskepasma Lindau
- Melittacanthus S.Moore
- Mellera S.Moore
- Mendoncia Vell. ex Vand.
- Metarungia Baden
- Mexacanthus T.F.Daniel
- Mimulopsis Schweinf.
- Mirandea Rzed.
- Monechma Hochst.
- Monothecium Hochst.
- Morsacanthus Rizzini
- Nelsonia R.Br.
- Neriacanthus Benth. & Hook.f.
- Neuracanthus Nees
- Nicoteba Lindau
- Odontonema Nees
- Oplonia Raf.
- Orophochilus Lindau
- Pachystachys Nees
- Pararuellia Bremek. & Nann.-Bremek.
- Pericalypta Benoist
- Petalidium Nees
- Phaulopsis Willd.
- Phialacanthus Benth.
- Phlogacanthus Nees
- Physacanthus Benth.
- Podorungia Baill.
- Poikilacanthus Lindau
- Polylychnis Bremek.
- Populina Baill.
- Pranceacanthus Wassh.
- Pseudacanthopale Benoist
- Pseuderanthemum Radlk.
- Pseudocalyx Radlk.
- Pseudodicliptera Benoist
- Psilanthele Lindau
- Psiloesthes Benoist
- Ptyssiglottis T.Anderson
- Pulchranthus V.M.Baum, Reveal & Nowicke
- Rhaphidospora Nees
- Rhinacanthus Nees
- Rhombochlamys Lindau
- Ritonia Benoist
- Rostellularia Rchb.
- Ruellia Plum. ex L.
- Ruelliopsis C.B.Clarke
- Rungia Nees
- Ruspolia Lindau
- Ruttya Harv.
- Saintpauliopsis Staner
- Salpinctium T.J.Edwards
- Salpixantha Hook.
- Samuelssonia Urb. & Ekman
- Sanchezia Ruiz & Pav.
- Sapphoa Urb.
- Satanocrater Schweinf.
- Schaueria Nees
- Schaueriopsis Champl. & I.Darbysh.
- Sclerochiton Harv.
- Sebastiano-schaueria Nees
- Spathacanthus Baill.
- Sphacanthus Benoist
- Sphinctacanthus Benth.
- Stachyacanthus Nees
- Staurogyne Wall.
- Stenandrium Nees
- Stenostephanus Nees
- Stenothyrsus C.B.Clarke
- Streblacanthus Kuntze
- Streptosiphon Mildbr.
- Strobilanthes Blume
- Strobilanthopsis S.Moore
- Suessenguthia Merxm.
- Symplectochilus Lindau
- Tabascina Baill.
- Tessmanniacanthus Mildbr.
- Tetramerium Nees
- Thunbergia Retz.
- Thyrsacanthus Moric.
- Thysanostigma J.B.Imlay
- Trichanthera Kunth
- Trichaulax Vollesen
- Trichocalyx Balf.f.
- Trichosanchezia Mildbr.
- Vindasia Benoist
- Whitfieldia Hook.
- Wuacanthus Y.F.Deng, N.H.Xia & H.Peng
- Xantheranthemum Lindau
- Xerothamnella C.T.White
- Xylacanthus Aver. & K.S.Nguyen
- Yeatesia Small
- Zygoruellia Baill.
Acanthaceae Juss. appears in other Kew resources:
First published in Gen. Pl. [Jussieu] 102. 1789 [4 Aug 1789] (1789)
Accepted by
- APG IV (2016) http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/boj.12385
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Colombian resources for Plants made Accessible
ColPlantA 2021. Published on the Internet at http://colplanta.org
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Flora Zambesiaca
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Flora of Tropical East Africa
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Flora of West Tropical Africa
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Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone
The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
© Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0