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Synonyms: Justiciaceae Raf.; Mendonciaceae Bremek.; Meyeniaceae Sreem.; Nelsoniaceae Sreem.; Thomandersiaceae Sreem.; Thunbergiaceae Lilja
Common name: Acanthus Family.
Number of genera 250. Number of species 3450.
Angiosperm. Magnoliopsida.
Disseminule a dehisced fruit, or an intact or entire fruit, or a seed.
Fruits
Pistil(s) compound; 1; 1-pistillate; with carpels united. Fruit pericarpium; simple; capsule, or drupe (drupe in Mendoncioideae); loculicidal capsule; capsule not inflated; capsule without operculum; without persistent central column; not within accessory organ(s); 1-seeded to many-seeded; 1–60-seeded; 2-carpellate; with carpels united; with carpels not radiating at maturity; without sterile carpels; not sulcate; in transection terete; wall leathery, or membranaceous; dehiscent, or indehiscent. Dehiscent unit seed(s) (seeds often over lap in capsules). Dehiscent regularly; actively; Acanthoideae explosively, or elastically; and shedding seeds; without replum. Epicarp brown (all shades) (at least); durable; glabrous (without hairs), or not glabrous (with hairs) (capsules may externally exhibit 1 or 2 (or no) seed compartments. If hairs are present they are usually on these compartments. Hairs may be eglandular or glandular or a mixture); hairs not glandular; without armature; smooth, or not smooth; glandular; without wing(s); without apical respiratory hole. Mesocarp absent, or present; fleshy (Mendoncia); composed of 1 unified layer; without lactiform cavity system. Endocarp absent, or present (Mendoncia); thin, or hard (Mendoncia); stone 1(–2)-loculate; smooth (or unknown for Mendoncia); without wing; without operculum; without secretory cavities; without mechanism for seedling escape; without grooves; without longitudinal ridges. Funiculus long; short with seed bearing hooks (retinacula); persisting in fruit after seed shed, or not persisting in fruit after seed shed (Mendoncioideae, Nelsonioideae. Thunbergideae).
Seeds
Aril absent. Seed larger than minute, or minute; D-shaped, or circular, or irregular, or oblong, or ovate (margin either smooth or toothed); in transection flattened, or terete; not bowl shaped, or bowl shaped (Thunbergia); not nutlike; without winglike beak; without caudate appendage(s); at maturity usually without food reserves, or with food reserves (Nelsonioideae), or without apparent food reserves; with endosperm (Nelsonioideae); without canavanine. Sarcotesta absent. Testa present; without fleshy or leathery layer over hard layer; tight; surface smooth, or unsmooth; surface with depressed features, or discreet raised features, or merged raised features; surface grooved, or pitted; surface muricate, or tuberculate, or warted; surface reticulate, or ribbed, or ridged (longitudinally), or rugose, or wrinkled; with crease or line separating cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle, or without crease or line separating cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle; with notch along margin where cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle tip approaching each other, or without notch along margin where cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle tip approach each other; without glands; with bristles (conical and barbed), or without bristles; pubescent, or glabrous; with hairs over surface, or hairs along margin; densely hairy; with straight hairs; without mucilaginous hairs, or with mucilaginous hairs (Ruellia); without glandular pubescence; without wings, or with wing(s); 1-winged (rarely); with wing encompassing seed, or wing at one end; without collar; without operculum; colored; monochrome; thin; becoming mucilaginous when wetted, or not becoming mucilaginous when wetted; surrounding endosperm. Endosperm Nelsonioideae moderate, or trace; smooth, or ruminate (Nelsonioideae); with oils; without fatty acid containing cyclopropene; without apical lobes; without chlorophyll; without isodiametric faceted surface; without odor.
Embryo differentiated from food reserve; well developed; 1 per seed; partially filling testa (with food reserve); 0.9 times the length of food reserve; at one end of seed not extending into a depression or cup; axile and centric; foliate; with spatulate cotyledons, or investing cotyledons; straight, or arcuate, or bent; parallel to seed length; embedded in endosperm; with cotyledons abruptly connected to hypocotyl-radicle; without coleorhiza; without simmondsin; without stomata; not green; with 2 or more cotyledons. Cotyledons 2; well developed; not divaricate; 0.7–0.9 times length of embryo; somewhat to significantly wider than hypocotyl-radicle; 3.5–9 times wider than hypocotyl-radicle; massive; flat, or twice-folded (Mendonica); smooth, or wrinkled; with apices entire; with margins separate; equal in size; not punctate dotted. Hypocotyl-radicle well developed; not thickened.
Distribution
Cosmopolitan. New World, Old World. North America, Middle America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia Major, Asia Minor, southeastern Asia, Australia, Oceania.
Notes
Barker (1986) is recommended reading. Cronquist: included Mendonciaceae on page 972 but with no illustration. Subfamilies: Acanthoideae (with all but 9 genera in family and (BARC) has scarcely adequate fruit and seed), Mendoncia (with no funiculus & with drupe 1-locular, rarely stone 2-locular and with 1 or 2 seeds and twice-folded cotyledons and no endosperm); Nelsonioideae with many seeded fruits & no retinacula; and Thunbergioideae with a spherical, hollowed-out seed & no reinacula. Acanthaceae (except Mendoncia & above two tribes) are identified by the "seed-bearing hooks" in the capsules. These hooks have been labelled "jaculators" (thought to ejactulate the seeds), but this is not true. A better term is "retinacula", because they retain seeds in the capsule. Seeds of Andrographis have U shaped groove.
Weed information
1 or more USA Federal noxious weeds, 1 or more USA state noxious weeds.
USA Federal noxious weeds: -- Hygrophila polysperma (Roxb.) T. Anderson: USA Federal Noxious Weed; USA state noxious weed: ALª, CAª, FLª, MAª, MNª, NCª, NHª, OKª, SCª, VTª. -- Symbols: ªaquatic weed; ●terrestrial weed; °weed in seed. -- Last updated September 2008.
USA states and territories with listed noxious weeds: Alabama (AL), California (CA), Florida (FL), Massachusetts (MA), Minnesota (MN), New Hampshire (NH), North Carolina (NC), Oklahoma (OK), South Carolina (SC), Vermont (VT).
USA state and territory noxious weeds: -- Hygrophila polysperma (Roxb.) T. Anderson: USA Federal Noxious Weed; USA state noxious weed: ALª, FLª, MNª, NCª, OKª, SCª, VTª. -- Symbols: ªaquatic weed; ●terrestrial weed; °weed in seed. -- Last updated September 2008.
Listed seeds
ASOA listed seeds, ISTA listed seeds.
ASOA listed seeds: -- Crossandra infundibuliformis (L.) Nees -- Hygrophila polysperma (Roxb.) T. Anderson -- Hypoestes phyllostachya Baker -- Thunbergia alata Bojer ex Sims -- Last updated September 2008.
ISTA listed seeds: -- Crossandra infundibuliformis (L.) Nees -- Hygrophila polysperma (Roxb.) T. Andersonw -- Hypoestes phyllostachya Baker -- Justicia quinqueangularis J. Koenig ex Roxb.-- Thunbergia alata Bojer ex Simsf -- Symbols: aagricultural and vegetable seeds (Table 2A Part 1); ttree and shrub species (Table 2A Part 2); fflower, spice, herb, and medicinal seeds (Table 2A Part 3); wweed seeds. -- Last updated September 2008.
Accepted genera
Acanthopale C. B. Clarke -- Acanthopsis Harv. -- Acanthostelma Bidgood & Brummitt -- Acanthura Lindau -- Acanthus L. -- Achyrocalyx Benoist -- Adhatoda Mill. -- Afrofittonia Lindau -- Ambongia Benoist -- Ancistranthus Lindau -- Ancistrostylis T. Yamaz. -- Andrographis Wall. ex Nees -- Angkalanthus Balf. f. -- Anisacanthus Nees -- Anisosepalum E. Hossain -- Anisostachya Nees -- Anisotes Nees, nom. cons. -- 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., nom. cons. prop. -- 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. -- Calycacanthus K. Schum. -- Camarotea Scott-Elliot -- Carlowrightia A. Gray, nom. cons. -- Celerina Benoist -- Cephalacanthus Lindau -- Chaetacanthus Nees -- Chalarothyrsus Lindau -- Chamaeranthemum Nees -- Championella Bremek. -- Chileranthemum Oerst. -- Chlamydocardia Lindau -- Chlamydostachya Mildbr. -- Chroesthes Benoist -- Clarkeasia J. R. I. Wood -- Clinacanthus Nees -- Clistax Mart. -- Codonacanthus Nees -- Conocalyx Benoist -- Corymbostachys Lindau -- Cosmianthemum Bremek. -- Crabbea Harv., nom. cons. -- Crossandra Salisb. -- Crossandrella C. B. Clarke -- Cyclacanthus S. Moore -- Cylindrosolenium Lindau -- Cyphacanthus Leonard -- Dactylostegium Nees -- Danguya Benoist -- Dasytropis Urb. -- Dichazothece Lindau -- Dicladanthera F. Muell. -- Dicliptera Juss., nom. cons. -- Didyplosandra Wight ex Bremek. -- Dipteracanthus Nees -- Dischistocalyx T. Anderson ex Benth. & Hook. f. -- Dolichostachys Benoist -- Drejera Nees -- Drejerella Lindau -- Duosperma Dayton -- Dyschoriste Nees -- Ecbolium Kurz -- Echinacanthus Nees -- Elytraria Michx., nom. cons. -- Encephalosphaera Lindau -- Epiclastopelma Lindau -- Eranthemum L. -- Eremomastax Lindau -- Eusiphon Benoist -- Filetia Miq. -- Fittonia Coem., nom. cons. -- Forcipella Baill. -- Forsythiopsis Baker -- Gastranthus O. Moritz ex Benth. & Hook. f. -- 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 -- Henrya Nees -- Herpetacanthus Nees -- Heteradelphia Lindau -- Holographis Nees -- Hoverdenia Nees -- Hulemacanthus S. Moore -- Hygrophila R. Br. -- Hypoestes Sol. ex R. Br. -- Ionacanthus Benoist -- Isoglossa Oerst., nom. cons. -- Isotheca Turrill -- Jadunia Lindau -- Juruasia Lindau -- Justicia L., nom. cons. prop. -- Kalbreyeriella Lindau -- Kosmosiphon Lindau -- Kudoacanthus Hosok. -- Lankesteria Lindl. -- Lasiocladus Bojer ex Nees -- Leandriella Benoist -- Lepidagathis Willd. -- Leptostachya Nees -- Liberatia Rizzini -- Linariantha B. L. Burtt & R. M. Sm. -- Lophostachys Pohl -- Louteridium S. Watson -- Lychniothyrsus Lindau -- Mackaya Harv., nom. cons. -- Marcania J. B. Imlay -- Megalochlamys Lindau -- Megalostoma Leonard -- Megaskepasma Lindau -- Melittacanthus S. Moore -- Mellera S. Moore -- Mendoncia Velloso ex Vand. -- Metarungia Baden -- Mexacanthus T. F. Daniel -- Meyenia Nees -- Mimulopsis Schweinf. -- Mirandea Rzed. -- Monechma Hochst. -- Monothecium Hochst. -- Morsacanthus Rizzini -- Nelsonia R. Br. -- Neohallia Hemsl. -- Neriacanthus Benth. -- Neuracanthus Nees -- Odontonema Nees, nom. cons. -- 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., nom. cons. -- Phialacanthus Benth. -- Phidiasia Urb. -- Phlogacanthus Nees -- Physacanthus Benth. -- Podorungia Baill. -- Poikilacanthus Lindau -- Polylychnis Bremek. -- 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 -- Razisea Oerst. -- Rhinacanthus Nees -- Rhombochlamys Lindau -- Ritonia Benoist -- Rostellularia Rchb. -- Ruellia L. -- Ruelliopsis C. B. Clarke -- Rungia Nees -- Ruspolia Lindau -- Ruttya Harv. -- Salpinctium T. J. Edwards & F. G. Norris -- Salpixantha Hook. -- Samuelssonia Urb. & Ekman -- Sanchezia Ruiz & Pav. -- Santapaua N. P. Balakr. & Subr. -- Sapphoa Urb. -- Satanocrater Schweinf. -- Sautiera Decne. -- Schaueria Nees, nom. cons. -- Schwabea Endl. & Fenzl -- Sclerochiton Harv. -- Sebastiano-schaueria Nees -- Sericospora Nees -- Siphonoglossa Oerst. -- Spathacanthus Baill. -- Sphacanthus Benoist -- Sphinctacanthus Benth. -- Spirostigma Nees -- Standleyacanthus Leonard -- Staurogyne Wall. -- Steirosanchezia Lindau -- Stenandriopsis S. Moore -- Stenandrium Nees, nom. cons. -- 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, nom. cons. -- Theileamea Baill. -- Thomandersia Baill. -- Thunbergia Retz., nom. cons. -- Thysanostigma J. B. Imlay -- Tremacanthus S. Moore -- Triaenanthus Nees -- Trichanthera Kunth -- Trichaulax Vollesen -- Trichocalyx Balf. f., nom. cons. -- Trichosanchezia Mildbr. -- Ulleria Bremek. -- Vavara Benoist -- Vindasia Benoist -- Warpuria Stapf -- Whitfieldia Hook. -- Xantheranthemum Lindau -- Xerothamnella C. T. White -- Yeatesia Small -- Zygoruellia Baill.
References specific to this family
Cronquist page 963 (including 972: Mendonciaceae & Mabberley). Barker, R.M. 1986. A taxonomic revision of Australian Acanthaceae. J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 9:1–292.
General references
Cronquist, A. 1981. An integrated system of classification of flowering plants, 1,262 p. Columbia University Press, New York, Engler, A. and K. Prantl. 1924 and onward. Die Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilimien. W. Engelman, Leipzig, Gaertner, J. 1788–1805. De fructibus et seminibus plantarum. The Author, Stuttgart, Goldberg, A. 1986 (dicots) and 1989 (monocots). Classification, evolution, and phylogeny of the familes of Dicotyledons. Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 58 for dicots (314 pp.) and 71 for monocots (74 pp.). [Goldberg's illustrations are reproduced from older publications and these should be consulted], Gunn, C.R. and C.A. Ritchie. 1988. Identification of disseminules listed in the Federal Noxious Weed Act. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1719:1–313, Gunn, C.R., J.H. Wiersema, C.A. Ritchie, and J.H. Kirkbride, Jr. 1992 and amendments. Families and genera of Spermatophytes recognized by the Agricultural Research Service. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1796:1–500, Mabberley, D.J. 1987. The plant-book, 706 p. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Martin, A.C. 1946. The comparative internal morphology of seeds. Amer. Midl. Naturalist 36:513–660, Spjut, R.W. 1994. A systematic treatment of fruit types. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 70:1–182, Wood, C.E., Jr. 1974. A student's atlas of flowering plants: Some dicotyledons of eastern North America, 120 pp. Harper and Row, New York.
Illustrations
Poor fruit and acceptable seed illustrations. Good illustration of the unique retinacula, which is restricted to this family. See Engler & Prantl & Wood, Jr. Disseminule illustration(s): fruit, or seed, or embryo. Seed illustration(s): Gunn & Ritchie, Barker (1986), Engler & Prantl. Embryo illustration(s): Martin.
• Fruit. 1 of 41. Acanthus ilicifolius L.: dehisced fruit. • Seed. 2 of 41. Acanthus ilicifolius L.: seeds. • Fruit. 3 of 41. Andrographis echinoides (L.) Nees: fruit. • Seed. 4 of 41. Andrographis echinoides (L.) Nees: seed. • Seed. 5 of 41. Aphelandra scabra (Vahl) Sm.: seeds. • Fruit. 6 of 41. Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson: dehisced fruit with calyx. • Seed. 7 of 41. Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson: seeds. • Fruit. 8 of 41. Barleria prionitis L.: dehisced fruit with calyx and seed. • Seed. 9 of 41. Barleria prionitis L.: seeds. • Fruit. 10 of 41. Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.) Roth: dehisced fruit with calyx & seed. • Fruit. 11 of 41. Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.) Roth: fruit. • Seed. 12 of 41. Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.) Roth: seed. • Fruit. 13 of 41. Bravaisia intergerrima (Spreng.) Standl.: dehisced fruit with calyx & seed. • Seed. 14 of 41. Bravaisia intergerrima (Spreng.) Standl.: seed. • Seed. 15 of 41. Carlowrightia cordifolia A.Gray: seeds. • Fruit. 16 of 41. Crabbea sp.: dehisced fruits with calyx. • Fruit. 17 of 41. Crabbea sp.: fruits: entire and dehsiced. • Seed. 18 of 41. Crabbea sp.: seed. • Fruit. 19 of 41. Justicia adhatoda L.: dehisced fruit. • Seed. 20 of 41. Justicia adhatoda L.: seeds. • Seed. 21 of 41. Justicia adhatodoides (E. Mey. ex Nees) V. A. W. Graham: seeds. • Fruit. 22 of 41. Mendoncia coccinea Vell.: fruit on calyx lobe. • Fruit. 23 of 41. Ruellia tuberosa L.: fruit. • Seed. 24 of 41. Ruellia tuberosa L.: seeds. • Seed. 25 of 41. Schwabea ciliaris Nees: seeds. • Fruit and seed. 26 of 41. Spathocanthus hoffmanii Lindau: dehisced fruit and seeds. • Seed. 27 of 41. Spathocanthus hoffmanii Lindau: seed. • Fruit. 28 of 41. Thunbergia erecta (Benth.) T. Anderson: dehisced fruit. • Seed. 29 of 41. Thunbergia erecta (Benth.) T. Anderson: seeds. • Embryo. 30 of 41. Acanthus montanus T.Anders.: embryo. • Embryo. 31 of 41. Asystasia schimperi T.Anders.: embryo. • Embryo. 32 of 41. Blechum pyramidatum (Lam.) Urb.: embryo. • Embryo. 33 of 41. Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.) B. Heyne ex Roth: embryo. • Embryo. 34 of 41. Brillantaisia lamium (Nees) Benth.: embryo. • Embryo. 35 of 41. Elytraria cubana Alain: embryo. • Embryo. 36 of 41. Hygrophila phlomoides Nees: embryo. • Embryo. 37 of 41. Hygrophila polysperma (Roxb.) T. Anderson: embryo. • Embryo. 38 of 41. Justicia flava Kurz: embryo. • Embryo. 39 of 41. Ruellia tuberosa L.: embryo. • Embryo. 40 of 41. Rungia repens (L.) Nees: embryo. • Embryo. 41 of 41. Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.: embryo.
We advise against extracting comparative information from the descriptions. This is much more easily achieved using the DELTA data files or the interactive key, which allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting or lacking specified attributes, and distributions of character states within any set of taxa. See also Guidelines for using data taken from Web publications.
Cite this publication as: ‘J.H. Kirkbride, Jr., C.R. Gunn, and M.J. Dallwitz. 2000 onwards. Family guide for fruits and seeds: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 12th April 2021. delta-intkey.com’.
