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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Acanthaceae
| image = Odontonema flwrs.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Flowers of ''Odontonema cuspidatum''
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = '''Acanthaceae'''
| familia_authority = [[Antoine Laurent de Jussieu|Juss.]]
| type_genus = ''[[Acanthus (genus)|Acanthus]]''
| type_genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = [[Genus|Genera]]
| subdivision = See text.
}}
The family '''Acanthaceae''' (or '''Acanthus family''') is a taxon of [[dicotyledon]]ous [[flowering plant]]s containing almost 250 genera and about 2500 species.
Most are [[tropical]] [[herb]]s, shrubs, or twining vines; some are [[epiphytes]]. Only a few species are distributed in [[temperate]] regions. The four main centres of distribution are [[Indonesia]] and [[Malaysia]], [[Africa]], [[Brasil]] and [[Central America]]. The representatives of the family can be found in nearly every [[Habitat (ecology)|habitat]], including dense or open [[forests]], in [[Scrubland|scrublands]], on wet fields and valleys, at the sea coast and in marine areas, and in [[swamps]] and as an element of [[mangrove]] woods.
[[Image:Starr 021122 0083 justicia aurea.jpg|left|thumb|''[[Justicia aurea]]'']]
Plants in this family have simple, opposite, decussate [[leaf|leaves]] with entire (or sometimes toothed, lobed, or spiny) margins, and without stipules. The leaves may contain cystoliths, or calcium carbonate concretions, seen as streaks on the surface. The [[flower]]s are perfect, zygomorphic to nearly actinomorphic, these arranged in an [[inflorescence]] that is either a [[raceme|spike]], [[raceme]], or cyme. Typically there is a colorful bract subtending each flower; in some species the bract is large and showy. The calyx is usually 4-5 lobed; the corolla tubular, 2-lipped or 5-lobed; [[stamen]]s either 2 or 4 arranged in pairs and inserted on the corolla; and the [[carpel|ovary]] superior, 2-carpellate, with axile placentation. The [[fruit]] is a two-celled [[capsule (fruit)|capsule]], dehiscing somewhat explosively. In most species, the [[seed]]s are attached to a small, hooked stalk (a modified ''funiculus'' called a ''jaculator'') that ejects them from the capsule.
A species well-known to temperate gardeners is ''[[Acanthus (genus)|Acanthus]] mollis'' or Bear's breeches, a herbaceous perennial plant with big leaves and flower spikes up to 2 m tall. Tropical genera familiar to gardeners include ''[[Thunbergia]]'' and ''[[Justicia]]''.
''[[Avicennia]]'', usually placed in [[Verbenaceae]] or in its own family, [[Avicenniaceae]], is included in Acanthaceae by the [[Angiosperm Phylogeny Group]] on the basis of molecular phylogenetic studies that show it to be associated with this family.
==Selected genera==
There are 246 accepted genera according to [[Germplasm Resources Information Network]] (GRIN).
{|
|- valign=top
|
* ''[[Acanthopale]]'' C.B.Clarke
* ''[[Acanthopsis]]'' Harv.
* ''[[Acanthostelma]]'' Bidgood & Brummitt
* ''[[Acanthura]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Acanthus (genus)|Acanthus]]'' L. (Bear's Breech)
* ''[[Achyrocalyx]]'' Benoist
* ''[[Adhatoda]]'' Mill. (sometimes included in ''Justicia'')
* ''[[Afrofittonia]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Ambongia]]'' Benoist
* ''[[Ancistranthus]]'' Lindau (Desert Honeysuckle)
* ''[[Ancistrostylis]]'' T.Yamaz.
* ''[[Andrographis]]'' Wall. ex Nees (False Waterwillow)
* ''[[Angkalanthus]]'' Balf.f.
* ''[[Anisacanthus]]'' Nees
* ''[[Anisosepalum]]'' E.Hossain
* ''[[Anisostachya]]'' Nees (sometimes included in ''Justicia'')
* ''[[Anisotes]]'' Nees
* ''[[Anomacanthus]]'' R.D.Good
* ''[[Apassalus]]'' Kobuski
* ''[[Aphanosperma]]'' T.F.Daniel
* ''[[Aphelandra]]'' R.Br.
* ''[[Aphelandrella]]'' Mildbr.
* ''[[Ascotheca]]'' Heine
* ''[[Asystasia]]'' Blume
* ''[[Asystasiella]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Ballochia]]'' Balf.f.
* ''[[Barleria]]'' L. (Bush violets)
* ''[[Barleriola]]'' Oerst.
* ''[[Benoicanthus]]'' Heine & A.Raynal
* ''[[Blechum]]'' P. Browne
* ''[[Blepharis]]'' Juss.
* ''[[Borneacanthus]]'' Bremek.
* ''[[Boutonia]]'' DC.
* ''[[Brachystephanus]]'' Nees
* ''[[Bravaisia]]'' DC.
* ''[[Brillantaisia]]'' P.Beauv.
* ''[[Calacanthus]]'' T.Anderson ex Benth. & Hook. f.
* ''[[Calophanoides]]'' (C.B.Clarke) Ridl. (sometimes included in ''Justicia'')
* ''[[Calycacanthus]]'' K. Schum.
* ''[[Camarotea]]'' Scott-Elliot
* ''[[Carlowrightia]]'' A.Gray (Wrightwort)
* ''[[Celrina (genus)|Celerina]]'' Benoist
* ''[[Cephalacanthus]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Chaetacanthus]]'' Nees
* ''[[Chalarothyrsus]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Chamaeranthemum]]'' Nees
* ''[[Championella]]'' Bremek.
* ''[[Chileranthemum]]'' Oerst.
* ''[[Chlamydacanthus]]'' Lindau (sometimes included in ''Theileamea'')
* ''[[Chlamydocardia]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Chlamydostachya]]'' Mildbr.
* ''[[Chroesthes]]'' Benoist
* ''[[Clinacanthus]]'' Nees
* ''[[Clistax]]'' Mart.
* ''[[Codonacanthus]]'' Nees
* ''[[Conocalyx]]'' Benoist
* ''[[Corymbostachys]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Cosmianthemum]]'' Bremek.
* ''[[Crabbea]]'' Harv.
* ''[[Crossandra]]'' Salisb.
* ''[[Crossandrella]]'' C.B.Clarke
* ''[[Cyclacanthus]]'' S.Moore
* ''[[Cylindrosolenium]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Cyphacanthus]]'' Leonard
* ''[[Dactylostegium]]'' Nees (sometimes included in ''Dicliptera'')
* ''[[Danguya]]'' Benoist
* ''[[Dasytropis]]'' Urb.
* ''[[Dichazothece]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Dicladanthera]]'' F. Muell.
* ''[[Dicliptera]]'' Juss. (Foldwing)
* ''[[Didyplosandra]]'' Wight ex Bremek.
* ''[[Dipteracanthus]]'' Nees (sometimes included in ''Ruellia'')
* ''[[Dischistocalyx]]'' T.Anderson ex Benth. & Hook.f.
* ''[[Dolichostachys]]'' Benoist
* ''[[Drejera]]'' Nees
* ''[[Drejerella]]'' Lindau (sometimes included in ''Justicia'')
* ''[[Duosperma]]'' Dayton
* ''[[Dyschoriste]]'' Nees (Snakeherb)
* ''[[Ecbolium]]'' Kurz
* ''[[Echinacanthus]]'' Nees
* ''[[Elytraria]]'' Michx. (Scalystem)
* ''[[Encephalosphaera]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Epiclastopelma]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Eranthemum]]'' L.
* ''[[Eremomastax]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Eusiphon]]'' Benoist
* ''[[Filetia]]'' Miq.
* ''[[Fittonia]]'' Coem.
* ''[[Forcipella]]'' Baill.
* ''[[Forsythiopsis]]'' Baker (sometimes included in ''Oplonia'')
* ''[[Geissomeria]]'' Lindl.
* ''[[Glossochilus]]'' Nees
* ''[[Golaea]]'' Chiov.
* ''[[Graphandra]]'' J.B.Imlay
* ''[[Graptophyllum]]'' Nees
* ''[[Gymnophragma]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Gymnostachyum]]'' Nees
* ''[[Gynocraterium]]'' Bremek.
* ''[[Gypsacanthus]]'' E.J.Lott et al.
* ''[[Haplanthodes]]'' Kuntze
* ''[[Harpochilus]]'' Nees
* ''[[Hemiadelphis]]'' Nees
* ''[[Hemigraphis]]'' Nees (sometimes included in ''Strobilanthes'')
* ''[[Henrya]]'' Nees
* ''[[Herpetacanthus]]'' Nees
* ''[[Heteradelphia]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Holographis]]'' Nees
* ''[[Hoverdenia]]'' Nees
* ''[[Hulemacanthus]]'' S.Moore
* ''[[Hygrophila]]'' R.Br. (Swampweed)
* ''[[Hypoestes]]'' Sol. ex R.Br.
* ''[[Ionacanthus]]'' Benoist
* ''[[Isoglossa]]'' Oerst.
* ''[[Isotheca]]'' Turrill
* ''[[Jadunia]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Juruasia]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Justicia]]'' L. (Justica, Water-willow, Shrimp plant)
* ''[[Kalbreyeriella]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Kosmosiphon]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Kudoacanthus]]'' Hosok.
* ''[[Lankesteria]]'' Lindl.
* ''[[Lasiocladus]]'' Bojer ex Nees
* ''[[Leandriella]]'' Benoist
|
* ''[[Lepidagathis]]'' Willd.
* ''[[Leptostachya]]'' Nees
* ''[[Liberatia]]'' Rizzini (sometimes included in ''Lophostachys'')
* ''[[Linariantha]]'' B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm.
* ''[[Lophostachys]]'' Pohl
* ''[[Louteridium]]'' S.Watson
* ''[[Lychniothyrsus]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Marcania]]'' J.B.Imlay
* ''[[Megalochlamys]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Megalostoma]]'' Leonard
* ''[[Megaskepasma]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Melittacanthus]]'' S.Moore
* ''[[Mellera]]'' S. Moore
* ''[[Mendoncia]]'' Vand.
* ''[[Metarungia]]'' Baden
* ''[[Mexacanthus]]'' T.F.Daniel
* ''[[Meyenia]]'' Nees
* ''[[Mimulopsis]]'' Schweinf.
* ''[[Mirandea]]'' Rzed.
* ''[[Monechma]]'' Hochst. (sometimes included in ''Justicia'')
* ''[[Monothecium]]'' Hochst.
* ''[[Morsacanthus]]'' Rizzini
* ''[[Nelsonia]]'' R.Br.
* ''[[Neohallia]]'' Hemsl.
* ''[[Neriacanthus]]'' Benth.
* ''[[Neuracanthus]]'' Nees
* ''[[Odontonema]]'' Nees (Toothedthread)
* ''[[Ophiorrhiziphyllon]]'' Kurz
* ''[[Oplonia]]'' Raf.
* ''[[Oreacanthus]]'' Benth.
* ''[[Orophochilus]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Pachystachys]]'' Nees
* ''[[Pelecostemon]]'' Leonard
* ''[[Pentstemonacanthus]]'' Nees
* ''[[Perenideboles]]'' Ram. (Goyena)
* ''[[Pericalypta]]'' Benoist
* ''[[Periestes]]'' Baill.
* ''[[Peristrophe]]'' Nees
* ''[[Petalidium]]'' Nees
* ''[[Phaulopsis]]'' Willd.
* ''[[Phialacanthus]]'' Benth.
* ''[[Phidiasia]]'' Urb.
* ''[[Phlogacanthus]]'' Nees
* ''[[Physacanthus]]'' Benth.
* ''[[Podorungia]]'' Baill.
* ''[[Poikilacanthus]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Polylychnis]]'' Bremek.
* ''[[Populina (genus)|Populina]]'' Baill.
* ''[[Pranceacanthus]]'' Wassh.
* ''[[Pseuderanthemum]]'' Radlk.
* ''[[Pseudocalyx]]'' Radlk.
* ''[[Pseudodicliptera]]'' Benoist
* ''[[Pseudoruellia]]'' Benoist
* ''[[Psilanthele]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Ptyssiglottis]]'' T.Anderson
* ''[[Pulchranthus]]'' V.M.Baum et al.
* ''[[Pupilla]]'' Rizzini (sometimes included in ''Justicia'')
* ''[[Razisea]]'' Oerst.
* ''[[Rhinacanthus]]'' Nees
* ''[[Rhombochlamys]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Ritonia]]'' Benoist
* ''[[Rostellularia]]'' Rchb. (sometimes included in ''Justicia'')
* ''[[Ruellia]]'' L. (Wild Petunia)
* ''[[Ruelliopsis]]'' C.B.Clarke
* ''[[Rungia]]'' Nees
* ''[[Ruspolia]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Ruttya]]'' Harv.
* ''[[Saintpauliopsis]]'' Staner (sometimes included in ''Staurogyne'')
* ''[[Salpinctium]]'' T.J.Edwards
* ''[[Salpixantha]]'' Hook.
* ''[[Samuelssonia]]'' Urb. & Ekman
* ''[[Sanchezia]]'' Ruiz & Pav.
* ''[[Santapaua]]'' N.P.Balakr. & Subr. (sometimes included in ''Hygrophila'')
* ''[[Sapphoa]]'' Urb.
* ''[[Satanocrater]]'' Schweinf.
* ''[[Sautiera]]'' Decne.
* ''[[Schaueria]]'' Nees
* ''[[Schwabea]]'' Endl. & Fenzl
* ''[[Sclerochiton]]'' Harv.
* ''[[Sebastiano-schaueria]]'' Nees
* ''[[Sericospora]]'' Nees
* ''[[Siphonoglossa]]'' Oerst. (Tubetongue)
* ''[[Spathacanthus]]'' Baill.
* ''[[Sphacanthus]]'' Benoist
* ''[[Sphinctacanthus]]'' Benth.
* ''[[Spirostigma]]'' Nees
* ''[[Standleyacanthus]]'' Leonard
* ''[[Staurogyne]]'' Wall.
* ''[[Steirosanchezia]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Stenandriopsis]]'' S. Moore
* ''[[Stenandrium]]'' Nees (Shaggytuft)
* ''[[Stenostephanus]]'' Nees
* ''[[Streblacanthus]]'' Kuntze
* ''[[Streptosiphon]]'' Mildbr.
* ''[[Strobilanthes]]'' Blume
* ''[[Strobilanthopsis]]'' S.Moore
* ''[[Styasasia]]'' S.Moore
* ''[[Suessenguthia]]'' Merxm.
* ''[[Synchoriste]]'' Baill.
* ''[[Taeniandra]]'' Bremek.
* ''[[Tarphochlamys]]'' Bremek.
* ''[[Teliostachya]]'' Nees
* ''[[Tessmanniacanthus]]'' Mildbr.
* ''[[Tetramerium]]'' Nees
* ''[[Theileamea]]'' Baill.
* ''[[Thomandersia]]'' Baill. also placed within its own family [[Thomandersiaceae]] by Wortley ''et al.'' 2007 <ref>{{cite journal| last = Wortley, A.H.| first = Harris, D.J. & Scotland, R.W. | title = On the Taxonomy and Phylogenetic Position of Thomandersia.| journal =
Systematic Botany | volume = 32| issue = 2| year = 2007| pages = 415-444| doi=10.1600/036364407781179716}}</ref>
* ''[[Thunbergia]]'' Retz.
* ''[[Thysanostigma]]'' J.B.Imlay
* ''[[Tremacanthus]]'' S. Moore
* ''[[Triaenanthus]]'' Nees
* ''[[Trichanthera]]'' Kunth
* ''[[Trichaulax]]'' Vollesen
* ''[[Trichocalyx]]'' Balf.f.
* ''[[Trichosanchezia]]'' Mildbr.
* ''[[Ulleria]]'' Bremek. (sometimes included in ''Ruellia'')
* ''[[Vavara]]'' Benoist
* ''[[Vindasia]]'' Benoist
* ''[[Warpuria]]'' Stapf
* ''[[Whitfieldia]]'' Hook.
* ''[[Xantheranthemum]]'' Lindau
* ''[[Xerothamnella]]'' C.T.White
* ''[[Yeatesia]]'' Small (Bractspike)
* ''[[Zygoruellia]]'' Baill.
|}
==Photo Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Acanthaceae_leaf.jpg|Leaf of the Acanthaceae "Nerve Plant", ''Fittonia verschaffeltii''
Image:Starr 011104 0065 asystasia gangetica.jpg|Chinese Violet (''[[Asystasia gangetica]]'')
Image:Peristrophe speciosa1.jpg|''Peristrophe speciosa''
Image:2006_08_14_Hypoestes_Phyllostachya.jpg | ([[Polka Dot]] Plant) ''[[Hypoestes]] Phyllostachya''
</gallery>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*{{cite journal| author=Schwarzbach, Andrea E. and McDade, Lucinda A.|title= Phylogenetic relationships of the mangrove family ''Avicenniaceae'' based on chloroplast and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences|journal= Systematic Botany|volume= 27|pages=84–98|year=2002}}
==External links==
*[http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/acanthac.htm Acanthaceae] in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, information retrieval.
*[http://tolweb.org/Acanthaceae/20878 Tree of Life Acanthaceae]
[[Category:Acanthaceae]]
[[Category:Lamiales]]
[[Category:Plant families]]