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Family: Acanthaceae (Black-eyed Susan family)

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) >  Eudicotyledons >  Core Eudicots >  Asterids >  Euasterid I > Order: Lamiales

There are about 350 genera and 4350 species worldwide (mainly in the tropics and subtropics), with about 42 genera and 350 species in southern Africa.

Genera indigenous to southern Africa

Information mainly from Balkwill & Welman (2000), and Welman (2003).

Acanthopsis

The 8 species are endemic to southern Africa, occurring in arid regions.

 

Adhatoda

Many species in the Old World tropics. Two species are native to southern Africa.

 

Anisotes

There are 19 species, native to Africa, Arabian Peninsula and Madagascar. Two species are found in southern Africa.

 

Asystasia

About 70 species, found from Africa to the East Indies and Australia. There are 8 species native to southern Africa.

 

Avicennia

About eight species, found in coastal mangroves lagoons worldwide. The only species indigenous to southern Africa is Avicennia marina. This genus was previously placed in its own family, the Avicenniaceae, but evidence now suggests that it is part of the Acanthaceae (see Angiosperm Phylogeny Website).

 

Barleria

There are 250 species. Found worldwide but mainly in the tropics. About 60 species are native to southern Africa.

Barleria obtusa

Blepharis

About 80 species, found from Africa and the Mediterranean to the East Indies. There are 51 species in southern Africa.

Blepharis capensis

Brillantaisia

About 40 species, native to tropical Africa and Madagascar. Not recorded in Balkwill & Welman (2000) but according to Joffe (2001), Brillantaisia subulugurica is found in Zimbabwe and tropical Africa.

 

Chaetacanthus

The 3 species are endemic to southern Africa.

 

Chorisochora

Of the 3 species, 2 are found on Socotra and 1 in southern Africa.

 

Crabbea

About 12 species of which 7 are native to southern Africa.

 

Crossandra

About 50 species, native to Africa, Arabian Peninsula, India and Madagascar. Four species are found in southern Africa.

Crossandra fruticulosa (Shade crossandra)

Dicliptera

About 150 species, found worldwide in warm and tropical regions. There are 15 species in southern Africa. 

 

Duosperma

The 12 species are native to Africa with 2 occurring in southern Africa.

 

Duvernoia

The 2 species are native to Mozambique and southern Africa.

 

Dyschoriste

About 65 species, occurring worldwide in tropical and warm areas. In southern Africa there are 11 species.

 

Ecbolium

The 22 species are found from Africa to India with 3 occurring in southern Africa.

 

Elytraria

About 7 species, native to Africa, Asia and America, with 1 species, Elytraria lyrata occurring in southern Africa.

 

Glossochilus

The 2 species are endemic to southern Africa.

 

Hygrophila

A mainly tropical genus of about 100 species with 10 species native to southern Africa. 

 

Hypoestes

About 40 species, found from Africa to Asia, East Indies and Australia, with 3 species occurring in southern Africa.

 

Isoglossa

About 50 species, found in the Old World, mainly in the tropics. There are 15 species in southern Africa. 

 

Justicia

About 420 species, found worldwide in warm areas. There are 23 species native to southern Africa and at least seven exotic species that are cultivated in gardens of this region, including Justicia brandegeeana (Shrimp plant) pictured on the right.

Justicia brandegeeana (Shrimp plant)

Lepidagathis

About 100 species, found worldwide in warm and tropical areas. Two species are native to southern Africa.

 

Mackaya

The single species, Mackaya bella, is native to southern Africa.

Mackaya bella

Megalochlamys

The 10 species are native to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula with 4 species occurring in southern Africa.

 

Metarungia

The 3 species are native to Africa, 2 of which occur in southern Africa.

 

Monechma

About 40 species, mainly African but also occurring in India. There are 19 species in southern Africa.

 

Nelsonia

The 5 species are native to Africa, India, Australia and South America. One species, Nelsonia canescens, occurs in southern Africa.

 

Neuracanthus

About 20 species, native to Africa, and from the Arabian Peninsula to India. There is one species in southern Africa, Neuracanthus africanus.

 

Peristrophe

About 15 species , occurring from Africa to the East Indies. In southern Africa there are 11 species.

 

Petalidium

About 35 species, native from Africa to India. In southern Africa there are 28 species.

 

Phaulopsis

About 20 species, native from Africa to India, with 3 species occurring in southern Africa.

 

Pseuderanthemum

About 60 species, found worldwide in the tropics. There are 2 species in southern Africa.

 

Rhinacanthus

About 22 species, native from Africa to Asia. In southern Africa there are 3 species.

 

Ruellia

About 150 species, native to America, Africa, Asia and Australia. About 15 species in southern Africa. 

 

Ruelliopsis

There are 2-3 species, African with 2 species in southern Africa.

 

Ruspolia

The 4 species are native to Africa and Madagascar, 3 of which occur in southern Africa.

 

Ruttya

There are 3 species; African with 1 species, Ruttya ovata, occurring in southern Africa.

 

Salpinctium

The 3 species are endemic to southern Africa.

 

Sclerochiton

About 12 species, native to Africa with 6 species occurring in southern Africa.

 

Siphonoglossa

About 8 species, native to Africa and America. There are 3 species native to southern Africa. 

 

Thunbergia

About 100 species, native to Old World, mainly in the tropics. There are 11 species in southern Africa. Common species: Thunbergia alata (Black-eyed Susan).

Other genera, cultivated in southern Africa

Sanchezia oblonga

Indigenous to Ecuador.

 

Blechum pyramidatum (Sornia)

Indigenous from Mexico through to South America.

 

Hemigraphis

 

 

Strobilanthes

Two species cultivated.

 

Whitfieldia elongata

Indigenous to tropical Africa.

 

Eranthemum

Three species cultivated.

 

Acanthus

Four species cultivated, including Acanthus mollis (Bear's breech), a common garden plant (see picture right).

Acanthus mollis (Bear's breech)

Xantheranthemum igneum

Indigenous to Peru.

 

Aphelandra

Two species cultivated.

 

Graptophyllum

Two species cultivated.

 

Pachystachys

Two species cultivated.

 

Anisacanthus

Two species cultivated.

 

Odontonema

Two species cultivated.

 

Fittonia

Two species cultivated.

 

Megaskepasma erythrochlamys

Indigenous to Venezuela.

 
 

Publications

  • Balkwill, K. & Welman, W.G. 2000. Acanthaceae. In: Seed Plants of Southern Africa (ed. O.A. Leistner). Strelitzia 10: 34-45. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.

  • Clarke, C.B. 1901. Acanthaceae. Flora Capensis 5,1: 1-92.

  • Meyer, P.G. 1968. Acanthaceae. Prodromus einer Flora von Südwestafrika 130: 1-65.

  • Welman, W.G. 2003. Acanthaceae. In Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds), Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14: 92-106. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria. 


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