Properties of Acanthaceae Family and All Genus

Properties of Acanthaceae Family

The Acanthaceae family is a group of plants that grow mostly in warm places like tropical and subtropical regions. These plants include small shrubs, herbs, climbers, and even trees. Many of them are used for medicine, decoration, and helping nature. Below are some important properties of this plant family.

1. How These Plants Look (Morphological Properties)

• Leaves: The leaves are simple and grow in opposite pairs. They do not have extra small leaf-like structures (stipules) at the base. Some leaves are smooth, while others have tiny hairs.
• Flowers: The flowers are colorful and have a special shape where one side looks different from the other. They grow in clusters or as single flowers.
• Calyx and Corolla: The calyx is made up of five small green parts (sepals), and the corolla is the colorful petal part that looks like a tube or funnel.
• Stamens and Pistil: The flower has two or four stamens (male parts) and one pistil (female part) that later forms the fruit.
• Fruit and Seeds: The fruit is like a dry pod that opens up to spread seeds. The seeds have small hooks that help them stick to animals and travel to new places.

2. How These Plants Help in Medicine

• Help with swelling: Some plants, like Andrographis paniculata (Kalmegh), reduce swelling and pain, which is useful for treating problems like arthritis.
• Fight germs: Justicia adhatoda (Vasaka) can kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi. People use it to treat coughs and infections.
• Protect the liver: Some plants help keep the liver healthy and are used to treat diseases like jaundice.
• Good for the lungs: Justicia adhatoda is also helpful for breathing problems like asthma and bronchitis. It helps clear mucus and makes breathing easier.
• Fight body damage: Many plants in this family have special natural chemicals that help protect the body from harmful substances called free radicals.

3. How These Plants Help Nature

• Attract insects and birds: These plants have bright flowers that bring bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which help in pollination.
• Protect soil: Some plants in this family have strong roots that hold the soil and stop it from washing away during rain.
• Give shelter and food: Many insects, birds, and small animals use these plants for food and protection.

4. How People Use These Plants

• For decoration: Some plants, like Aphelandra squarrosa (Zebra Plant) and Fittonia (Nerve Plant), are used as indoor plants because they look beautiful.
• For making medicine: Many of these plants are used to make herbal medicine to treat different diseases.
• For natural dyes and fibers: Some plants in this family are used to make natural colors and fibers for crafts and fabrics.

5. How These Plants Grow and Survive

• Can grow in many places: These plants can live in different conditions, from dry areas to wet forests.
• Easy to grow: They can grow from seeds, cuttings, or by dividing their roots.
• Some can survive droughts: Some plants in this family store water in their stems or leaves, helping them survive in dry areas.

The Acanthaceae family includes many useful plants that help people, nature, and animals. They are important for medicine, decoration, and keeping the environment healthy.

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Acanthopale C.B.Clarke
Acanthopsis Harv.
Acanthostelma Bidgood & Brummitt – synonym of Crabbea
Acanthura Lindau – synonym of Lepidagathis
Acanthus mollis
Achyrocalyx Benoist – synonym of Stenandriopsis
Aechmanthera – synonym of Strobilanthes
Adhatoda Mill. – synonym of Justicia
Afrofittonia Lindau
Ambongia Benoist
Ancistranthus Lindau (‘desert honeysuckle’)
Andrographis Wall. ex Nees (‘false waterwillow’)
Angkalanthus Balf.f.
Anisacanthus Nees
Anisosepalum E.Hossain
Anisostachya Nees
Anisotes Nees
Anomacanthus R.D.Good
Apassalus Kobuski – synonym of Dyschoriste
Aphanosperma T.F.Daniel
Aphelandra R.Br. (including A. squarrosa, ‘zebra plant’)
Aphelandrella Mildbr. – synonym of Aphelandra
Ascotheca Heine
Asystasia Blume
Asystasiella Lindau – synonym of Asystasia
Avicennia L.
Aymoreana Braz, T.F.Daniel & Kiel
Ballochia Balf.f.
Barleria L. (‘bush violets’)
Barleriola Oerst
Benoicanthus Heine & A.Raynal – synonym of Ruellia
Blechum P.Browne – synonym of Ruellia
Blepharis Juss.
Borneacanthus Bremek.
Boutonia DC.
Brachystephanus Nees
Bravaisia DC.
Brillantaisia P.Beauv.
Brunoniella Bremek.
Calacanthus T.Anderson ex Benth. & Hook.f.
Calophanoides (C.B.Clarke) Ridl. – synonym of Justicia
Calycacanthus K.Schum.
Camarotea Scott-Elliot
Carlowrightia A.Gray (wrightwort)
Celerina Benoist
Cephalacanthus Lindau
Cephalophis Vollesen
Chalarothyrsus Lindau
Chamaeranthemum Nees
Championella Bremek. – synonym of Strobilanthes
Champluviera I.Darbysh., T.F.Daniel & Kiel
Chileranthemum Oerst.
Chlamydacanthus Lindau
Chlamydocardia Lindau
Chlamydostachya Mildbr. – synonym of Anisotes
Chorisochora Vollesen
Chroesthes Benoist
Clinacanthus Nees
Clistax Mart.
Codonacanthus Nees
Conocalyx Benoist
Corymbostachys Lindau – synonym of Anisostachya
Cosmianthemum Bremek.
Crabbea Harv.
Crossandra Salisb.
Crossandrella C.B.Clarke
Cuenotia Rizzini
Cyclacanthus S.Moore
Cylindrosolenium Lindau – synonym of Stenostephanus
Cynarospermum Vollesen
Cyphacanthus Leonard
Dactylostegium Nees synonym of Dicliptera
Danguya Benoist – synonym of Anisotes
Dasytropis Urb.
Dianthera L. (synonyms: Amphiscopia, Centrilla, Diplanthera, Jungia)
Diceratotheca J.R.I.Wood & Scotland
Dichazothece Lindau
Dicladanthera F.Muell.
Dicliptera Juss. (Foldwing)
Didyplosandra Wight ex Bremek. – synonym of Strobilanthes
Dipteracanthus Nees – synonym of Ruellia
Dinteracanthus C.B.Clarke ex Schinz
Dischistocalyx T.Anderson ex Benth. & Hook.f.
Dolichostachys Benoist
Drejera Nees – synonym of Thyrsacanthus
Drejerella Lindau – synonym of Justicia
Duosperma Dayton
Dyschoriste Nees (snakeherb)
Ecbolium Kurz
Echinacanthus Nees
Elytraria Michx. (scalystem)
Encephalosphaera Lindau – synonym of Aphelandra
Epiclastopelma Lindau – synonym of Mimulopsis
Eranthemum L.
Eremomastax Lindau
Eusiphon Benoist – synonym of Ruellia
Filetia Miq.
Fittonia Coem. (nerve plants)
Forcipella Baill.
Forsythiopsis Baker – synonym of Oplonia
Geissomeria Lindl. – synonym of Aphelandra
Glossochilus Nees
Golaea Chiov. – synonym of Crabbea
Graphandra J.B.Imlay
Graptophyllum Nees
Gymnophragma Lindau
Gymnostachyum Nees
Gynocraterium Bremek. – synonym of Staurogyne
Gypsacanthus E.J.Lott et al.
Haplanthodes Kuntze
Haplanthus Nees
Harpochilus Nees
Hemiadelphis Nees – synonym of Hygrophila
Hemigraphis Nees
Henrya Nees
Herpetacanthus Nees
Heteradelphia Lindau
Holographis Nees
Hoverdenia Nees
Hulemacanthus S.Moore
Hygrophila R.Br. (‘swampweed’)
Hypoestes (‘polka-dot plants’; includes Periestes)
Ichthyostoma Hedrén & Vollesen
Ionacanthus Benoist – synonym of Mellera
Isoglossa Oerst.
Isotheca Turrill
Jadunia Lindau
Juruasia Lindau – synonym of Herpetacanthus
Justicia L. (justicia, ‘water-willow’, ‘shrimp plant’)
Kalbreyeriella Lindau – synonym of Stenostephanus
Kenyacanthus I.Darbysh. & Kiel
Kosmosiphon Lindau
Kudoacanthus Hosok.
Lankesteria Lindl.
Lasiocladus Bojer ex Nees
Leandriella Benoist
Lepidagathis Willd.
Leptosiphonium F.Muell.
Leptostachya Nees
Liberatia Rizzini
Linariantha B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm.
Lophostachys Pohl – synonym of Lepidagathis
Louteridium S.Watson
Lychniothyrsus Lindau – synonym of Ruellia
Mackaya Harv.
Marcania J.B.Imlay
Mcdadea E.A.Tripp & I.Darbysh.
Megalochlamys Lindau
Megalostoma Leonard – synonym of Justicia
Megaskepasma Lindau
Meiosperma Raf.
Melittacanthus S.Moore
Mellera S.Moore
Mendoncia Vand.
Metarungia Baden
Mexacanthus T.F.Daniel
Meyenia Nees
Mimulopsis Schweinf.
Mirandea Rzed.
Monechma Hochst. – synonym of Meiosperma
Monothecium Hochst.
Morsacanthus Rizzini
Nelsonia R.Br.
Neohallia Hemsl. – synonym of Justicia
Neriacanthus Benth.
Neuracanthus Nees
Nicoteba Lindau
Odontonema Nees (‘toothedthread’)
Ophiorrhiziphyllon Kurz – synonym of Staurogyne
Oplonia Raf.
Oreacanthus Benth. – synonym of Brachystephanus
Orophochilus Lindau – synonym of Aphelandra
Pachystachys Nees
Pachystrobilus Bremek. – synonym of Strobilanthes
Pararuellia Bremek. & Nann.-Bremek.
Pelecostemon Leonard – synonym of Justicia
Pentstemonacanthus Nees – synonym of Ruellia
Perenideboles Ram.Goyena – synonym of Megaskepasma
Pericalypta Benoist
Peristrophe Nees – synonym of Dicliptera
Petalidium Nees
Phaulopsis Willd.
Phialacanthus Benth.
Phidiasia Urb. – synonym of Odontonema
Phlogacanthus Nees
Physacanthus Benth.
Podorungia Baill.
Pogonospermum Hochst.
Poikilacanthus Lindau
Polylychnis Bremek.
Populina Baill.
Pranceacanthus Wassh.
Pseudacanthopale Benoist
Pseuderanthemum Radlk.
Pseudocalyx Radlk.
Pseudodicliptera Benoist
Pseudoruellia Benoist – synonym of Ruellia
Psilanthele Lindau
Psiloesthes Benoist
Ptyssiglottis T.Anderson
Pulchranthus V.M.Baum et al.
Pupilla Rizzini – synonym of Justicia
Razisea Oerst. – synonym of Stenostephanus
Rhaphidospora Nees
Rhinacanthus Nees
Rhombochlamys Lindau – synonym of Aphelandra
Ritonia Benoist
Rostellularia Rchb.
Ruellia L. (‘wild petunia’)
Ruelliopsis C.B.Clarke
Rungia Nees
Ruspolia Lindau
Ruttya Harv.
× Ruttyruspolia A.Meeuse & de Wet (Ruspolia × Ruttya)
Saintpauliopsis Staner
Salpinctium T.J.Edwards – synonym of Asystasia
Salpixantha Hook.
Samuelssonia Urb. & Ekman
Sanchezia Ruiz & Pav.
Santapaua N.P.Balakr. & Subr. – synonym of Hygrophila
Sapphoa Urb.
Satanocrater Schweinf.
Sautiera Decne. – synonym of Dyschoriste
Schaueria Nees
Schaueriopsis Champl. & I.Darbysh.
Schwabea Endl. – unplaced
Sclerochiton Harv.
Sebastiano-schaueria Nees
Sericospora Nees – unplaced
Siphonoglossa Oerst. – synonym of Justicia
Spathacanthus Baill.
Sphacanthus Benoist
Sphinctacanthus Benth.
Spirostigma Nees – synonym of Ruellia
Stachyacanthus Nees
Standleyacanthus Leonard – synonym of Herpetacanthus
Staurogyne Wall. (including S. repens)
Steirosanchezia Lindau – synonym of Sanchezia
Stenandriopsis S.Moore
Stenandrium Nees (shaggytuft)
Stenostephanus Nees
Stenothyrsus C.B.Clarke
Streblacanthus Kuntze
Streptosiphon Mildbr.
Strobilanthes Blume (‘Chinese rain-bell’, ‘Persian shield’)
Strobilanthopsis S.Moore
Styasasia S.Moore – synonym of Asystasia
Suessenguthia Merxm.
Symplectochilus Lindau
Synchoriste Baill. – synonym of Lasiocladus
Tabascina Baill.
Taeniandra Bremek. – synonym of Strobilanthes
Tarphochlamys Bremek. – synonym of Strobilanthes
Teliostachya Nees – synonym of Lepidagathis
Tessmanniacanthus Mildbr.
Tetramerium Nees
Theileamea Baill. – synonym of Chlamydacanthus
Thunbergia Retz.
Thyrsacanthus Moric.
Thysanostigma J.B.Imlay
Tremacanthus S.Moore – synonym of Ruellia
Triaenanthus Nees – synonym of Strobilanthes
Trichanthera Kunth
Trichaulax Vollesen
Trichocalyx Balf.f.
Trichosanchezia Mildbr.
Ulleria Bremek. – synonym of Ruellia
Vavara Benoist
Vindasia Benoist
Warpuria Stapf – synonym of Podorungia
Whitfieldia Hook.
Wuacanthus Y.F.Deng, N.H.Xia & H.Peng
Xantheranthemum Lindau
Xerothamnella C.T.White
Xylacanthus Aver. & K.S.Nguyen
Yeatesia Small (Bractspike)
Zygoruellia Baill.