Thunbergia

Genus: Thunbergia

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> Family: Acanthaceae

About 100 species, native to Old World, mainly in the tropics. There are 11 species in southern Africa. Named after Carl Thunberg who was an early botanical explorer to the the Cape.

Species indigenous to southern Africa

Thunbergia alata (Black-eyed Susan) The native distribution of this climber is from the Eastern Cape (South Africa) through to East Africa and it is usually found growing on forest margins. It is a popular garden plant.
Thunbergia amoena
Thunbergia atriplicifolia (Natal Primrose) isiphondo esincane [Zulu] See KwaZulu-Natal Wildflowers by Elsa Pooley p. 306; See Wild Flowers of the Highveld by Braam van Wyk and Sasa Malan p. 34
Thunbergia dregeana Haarbossie [Afrikaans]; isiphondo [Zulu] See KwaZulu-Natal Wildflowers by Elsa Pooley p. 306.
Thunbergia neglecta See KwaZulu-Natal Wildflowers by Elsa Pooley p. 306; See Wild Flowers of the Highveld by Braam van Wyk and Sasa Malan p. 34
Thunbergia aurea
Thunbergia dregeana
Thunbergia natalensis (Dwarf Thunbergia, Natal Blue Bell) Dwergthunbergia [Afrikaans]; isiphondo esikhulu, unohlonishwayo [Zulu] See KwaZulu-Natal Wildflowers by Elsa Pooley p. 488; Creative gardening with indigenous plants by Pitta Joffe p. 177. Link: Thunbergia natalensis (PlantzAfrica.com)
Thunbergia neglecta See KwaZulu-Natal Wildflowers by Elsa Pooley p. 306; See Wild Flowers of the Highveld by Braam van Wyk and Sasa Malan p. 34
Thunbergia purpurata
Thunbergia venosa

Publications

Retief, E. & Reyneke, W.F. 1984. The genus Thunbergia in southern Africa. Bothalia 15, 1 & 2: 107-116.