Difference between revisions of "Acanthus"

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'''''Acanthus''''' is a [[genus]] of about 30 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Acanthaceae]], native to tropical and warm temperate regions of the [[Roman World]], 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 language|Greek]] word ακανθος (''acanthos''), meaning "thorny."<ref>{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=esMPU5DHEGgC&  |first=Umberto |last=Quattrocchi |title=CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: A-C |year=2000 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=9780849326752 |page=23}}</ref>
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'''''Acanthus mollis''''', commonly known as ''Bear's Breeches'', is a [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]] in the genus ''[[Acanthus (genus)|Acanthus]]'', native to the [[Mediterranean region]] from [[Portugal]] and northwest [[Africa]] east to [[Croatia]], and is one of the earliest cultivated species of garden plants.  
  
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The genus comprises [[Herbaceous plant|herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]]s, rarely [[subshrub]]s, with spiny leaves and flower [[raceme|spikes]] bearing white or purplish flowers. Size varies from {{convert|0.4|to|2|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height.
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It grows to 2 m tall, with basal clusters of deeply lobed and cut, shining dark green [[leaf|leaves]] up to 1 m long and 20&nbsp;cm broad. The [[flower]]s are tubular, whitish, lilac or rose with spiny green or purplish [[bract]]s, and produced on stout spikes which grow up to 2.5 m (8 ft) above the leaves. It flowers in late spring or early summer. It grows in dry areas, and is tolerant of drought and shade. The plants are propagated from [[tubers]] and tend to form large, localized clumps which can survive for several decades. The leaves of this plant are generally considered by historians to have been the design inspiration for the [[Corinthian order|Corinthian]] column capitals of Greco-Roman architecture.<ref>
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Vitruvius. ''On Architecture''.
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[http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Vitruvius/4*.html Book IV].
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Revision as of 20:51, 15 September 2010


Acanthus mollis


Plant Characteristics
Lifespan: ⌛ perennial
Cultivation
Scientific Names

Acanthaceae >

Acanthus >


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Acanthus mollis, commonly known as Bear's Breeches, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the genus Acanthus, native to the Mediterranean region from Portugal and northwest Africa east to Croatia, and is one of the earliest cultivated species of garden plants.


It grows to 2 m tall, with basal clusters of deeply lobed and cut, shining dark green leaves up to 1 m long and 20 cm broad. The flowers are tubular, whitish, lilac or rose with spiny green or purplish bracts, and produced on stout spikes which grow up to 2.5 m (8 ft) above the leaves. It flowers in late spring or early summer. It grows in dry areas, and is tolerant of drought and shade. The plants are propagated from tubers and tend to form large, localized clumps which can survive for several decades. The leaves of this plant are generally considered by historians to have been the design inspiration for the Corinthian column capitals of Greco-Roman architecture.[1]


Read about Acanthus in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Acanthus (akanthos, thorn). Acanthaceae. Bear's Breech. A genus of twenty species of temperate Old World, mostly hardy herbaceous perennials of vigorous growth and broad pinnatifid foliage, suitable for backgrounds of borders and subtropical effects.

Height 3-4 ft.: spikes 1-1 1/2 ft. long; fls. dull white to rose or purplish, sessile, spicate, densely clustered; corolla 1-lipped, the lip 3-lobed; anthers 1-celled, ciliate. Mostly S. Eu.

They need a rich, light, well-drained soil and much sunshine. Excessive moisture is fatal, especially in winter and spring. Fall-planted stock should always be protected for the winter by long litter or evergreen boughs, even where established plants are hardy. Must be deeply mulched north in winter. Propagation is by division in spring or early autumn, and by seeds.

It is supposed that acanthus leaves afforded the suggestion for the foliage decoration on the capital of the Corinthian and other columns. Fig. 85 shows the conventionalized decoration, and Fig. 86 the form of leaf of A. spinosus. The leaves of A. mollis were probably also involved in variations of decoration.CH


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Cultivation

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Propagation

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Pests and diseases

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Species

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Gallery

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  • Acanthus montanus

  • photo 2

  • photo 3

References

External links


  1. ↑ Vitruvius. On Architecture. Book IV.
  2. ↑ "Species Records of Acanthus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved on 2010-06-19.
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