Difference between revisions of "Acanthus"

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{{SPlantbox
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|familia=Acanthaceae
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|genus=Acanthus
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|common_name=Bear's breeches
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|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|lifespan=perennial
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|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|Temp Metric=°F
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|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
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|image=AcanthusmollisPalatineHill.jpg
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|image_width=240
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|image_caption=Acanthus mollis
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}}
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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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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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{{Inc|
 
{{Inc|
 
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.
 
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.
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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.
 
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.
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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.{{SCH}}
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}}
  
}}
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==Cultivation==
{{Taxobox
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{{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
| color = lightgreen
 
| name = ''Acanthus''
 
| image = Acanthus montanus3.jpg
 
| image_width = 240px
 
| image_caption = ''[[Acanthus montanus]]''
 
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
 
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
 
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
 
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
 
| familia = [[Acanthaceae]]
 
| genus = '''''Acanthus'''''
 
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
 
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
 
| subdivision = See text
 
}}
 
  
'''''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 [[Old World]], with the highest species diversity in the [[Mediterranean region]] and [[Asia]]. Common names include '''Acanthus''' and '''Bear's breeches'''.
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===Propagation===
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{{edit-prop}}<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
  
The genus comprises [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]]s, rarely [[subshrub]]s, with spiny leaves and flower [[raceme|spikes]] bearing white or purplish flowers. Size varies from 40 cm, up to 2 m tall.
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===Pests and diseases===
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{{edit-pests}}<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
  
;Selected species
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==Species==
*''[[Acanthus balcanicus]]''
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Selected species{{wp}}:
*''[[Acanthus dioscoridis]]''
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*''[[Acanthus balcanicus]]'' <small>Heywood & I.Richardson</small> (Syn. ''Acanthus hungaricus'' <small>([[Vincze von Borbás|Borbás]]) [[Carl Baenitz|Baenitz]]</small>, ''Acanthus longifolius'' <small>[[Nicolaus Thomas Host|Host]]</small>)
*''[[Acanthus eminens]]''
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*''[[Acanthus dioscoridis]]'' <small>[[Carl Ludwig Willdenow|Willd.]]</small>
*''[[Acanthus hirsutus]]''
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*''[[Acanthus ebracteatus]]'' <small>[[Martin Vahl|Vahl]]</small>
*''[[Acanthus hungaricus]]''
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*''[[Acanthus eminens]]'' <small>[[Charles Baron Clarke|C.B.Clarke]]</small>
*''[[Acanthus ilicifolius]]''
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*''[[Acanthus hirsutus]]'' <small>[[Pierre Edmond Boissier|Boiss.]]</small>
*''[[Acanthus mollis]]''
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*''[[Acanthus ilicifolius]]'' <small>[[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]</small>
*''[[Acanthus montanus]]''
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*''[[Acanthus mollis]]'' <small>[[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]</small>
*''[[Acanthus polystachyus]]''
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*''[[Acanthus montanus]]'' <small>[[Thomas Anderson (botanist)|T.Anders.]]</small>
*''[[Acanthus spinosus]]''
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*''[[Acanthus polystachyus]]'' <small>[[Alire Raffeneau-Delile|Delile]]</small>
*''[[Acanthus syriacus]]''
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*''[[Acanthus spinosus]]'' <small>[[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]</small>
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*''[[Acanthus syriacus]]'' <small>[[Pierre Edmond Boissier|Boiss.]]</small><ref name="GRINSpecies>{{cite web |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?61 |title=Species Records of ''Acanthus'' |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |accessdate=2010-06-19}}</ref>
  
===Cultivation and uses===
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==Gallery==
[[Image:AcanthusmollisPalatineHill.jpg|thumb|left|''Acanthus mollis'' flowering in the ruins of the [[Palatine Hill]], Rome, May 2005]]
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{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery  -->
Several species, especially ''A. spinosa'' and ''A. mollis'', are grown as [[ornamental plant]]s.
 
  
The foliage is the basis of a style of architectural ornamentation; see [[acanthus (ornament)]]. <br clear = left>
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<gallery>
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Image:Acanthus montanus3.jpg| Acanthus montanus
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Image:Upload.png| photo 2
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Image:Upload.png| photo 3
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</gallery>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
{{Wikispecies|Acanthus}}
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
*[http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Acanthus&SPECIES_XREF=&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= Flora Europaea: ''Acanthus'']
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?61 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Acanthus'']
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
*[http://www.dipbot.unict.it/orto/0359-1.html Images of Acanthus]
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
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==External links==
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*{{wplink}}
  
[[Category:Acanthaceae]]
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{{stub}}
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__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 20:54, 15 September 2010


Acanthus mollis


Plant Characteristics
Lifespan: perennial
Cultivation
Scientific Names

Acanthaceae >

Acanthus >


If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!


Acanthus is a genus of about 30 species of flowering plants 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 word ακανθος (acanthos), meaning "thorny."[1]

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 in height.


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

Selected specieswp:

Gallery

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References

External links


  1. Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: A-C. CRC Press. p. 23. ISBN 9780849326752. http://books.google.com/books?id=esMPU5DHEGgC&. 
  2. "Species Records of Acanthus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved on 2010-06-19.