Acanthaceae

[satish phadke]

     

In the new year why not share some of the facts about families of flowering plants.

For plant identification knowledge of families is very much important.
There are about 315 families of flowering plants.

ACANTHACEAE family

Acanthus:Greek akanthos =thorn=>often spiny leaves /bracts

Mostly in the tropical parts of the world .some extending into temperate regions.
Vegetative characters :annual or perennial herbs,shrubs or climbers.
Leaves opposite decussate simple and entire and rarely divided.
Flowers:most common dichasial cyme.Sometimes axillary solitary(Thunbergia)
Flowers are often well developed and coloured.Bilipped corolla.
Examples:
Barleria(Koranti in Marathi)cultivated as ornamental hedge plant in gardens
Adhatoda vasica (Adulsa: a common cough cure)
Thunbergia:climber commonly planted on hedges and walls as decorative
Justicia
Carvia callosa:flowers every 7-8 years
Ruellia

 

[J.M. Garg]

That's really nice, Satish ji. Very good idea to create more interest & awareness.

Can you do it for the pictures being posted, whenever you get time?

 

Someone can post typical pictures also against the family details.

 

Mr. Debasish posted Rungia parviflora of this family as per following link:
http://mail.google.com/mail/?zx=e6g70023dbrb&ui=1
 

For my Birds, Butterflies, Trees pictures etc., visit  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/J.M.Garg
For learning about our trees & plants, please visit http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en

[satish phadke]

Debasish photographs 57:Hygrophilla schulli(auriculata),58 Justicia,62 Rungia parviflora,Rungia repens are all Acanthaceae members.
SATISH PHADKE