Family · Asterids
Acanthaceae
Acanthus, black-eyed Susan vine
Tropical herbs and shrubs with showy bracts and two-lipped flowers; includes bear's breeches.
- Accepted species
- 5,603accepted names · Kew WCVP
- Genera
- 207accepted genera · Kew WCVP
- Origin
- ≈136 MaCretaceous · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
- Centre of diversity
- Africamost native species · WGSRPD
Open Acanthaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.›
Plants you might know
- Acanthus
- Justicia
- Thunbergia
- Ruellia
Largest genera
Justicia959 spp.
Strobilanthes472 spp.
Ruellia388 spp.
Barleria307 spp.
Dicliptera242 spp.
Aphelandra212 spp.
Lepidagathis157 spp.
Staurogyne155 spp.
Thunbergia150 spp.
Hypoestes139 spp.
Pseuderanthemum134 spp.
Blepharis128 spp.
Dyschoriste98 spp.
Stenostephanus95 spp.
Mendoncia90 spp.
Rungia88 spp.
Isoglossa83 spp.
Hygrophila76 spp.
Anisostachya61 spp.
Asystasia61 spp.
Crossandra54 spp.
Gymnostachyum53 spp.
Petalidium50 spp.
Stenandrium50 spp.
Sanchezia45 spp.
Phlogacanthus43 spp.
Dianthera41 spp.
Ptyssiglottis38 spp.
Pogonospermum34 spp.
Tetramerium33 spp.
Neuracanthus32 spp.
Odontonema32 spp.
Hemigraphis31 spp.
Acanthus30 spp.
Anisotes29 spp.
Andrographis27 spp.
Carlowrightia27 spp.
Duosperma26 spp.
Rostellularia25 spp.
Rhinacanthus24 spp.
Ecbolium22 spp.
Elytraria22 spp.
Eranthemum22 spp.
Phaulopsis22 spp.
Stenandriopsis22 spp.
Brachystephanus21 spp.
Herpetacanthus21 spp.
Oplonia21 spp.
Acanthopsis20 spp.
Mimulopsis20 spp.
Holographis18 spp.
Pachystachys18 spp.
Sclerochiton18 spp.
Graptophyllum15 spp.
Schaueria15 spp.
Brillantaisia14 spp.
Cosmianthemum14 spp.
Crabbea14 spp.
Poikilacanthus13 spp.
Whitfieldia13 spp.
The 147 smaller genera are in the interactive tree.
Where it grows
- Africa1,949
- Southern America1,651
- Asia-Tropical1,487
- Northern America448
- Asia-Temperate400
- Australasia53
- Pacific34
- Europe5
Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.
Related families
Acanthaceae sits in the order Lamiales.
- LamiaceaeMints — basil, lavender, sage, rosemary8,295
- GesneriaceaeAfrican violet, gloxinia4,070
- ScrophulariaceaeFigworts, buddleja2,324
- OrobanchaceaeBroomrapes, Indian paintbrush2,287
- PlantaginaceaePlantains, snapdragon, foxglove2,210
- VerbenaceaeVerbena, lantana, teak950
- BignoniaceaeJacaranda, catalpa, trumpet vine890
- OleaceaeOlive, ash, lilac, jasmine772
- LentibulariaceaeBladderworts, butterworts453
- LinderniaceaeFalse pimpernels330
- CalceolariaceaeSlipper flowers274
- PhrymaceaeMonkeyflowers230
- PedaliaceaeSesame79
- Mazaceae50
- Stilbaceae40
- Schlegeliaceae38
- MartyniaceaeDevil's claw14
- PaulowniaceaeEmpress tree11
- ByblidaceaeRainbow plants8
- Thomandersiaceae6
- Carlemanniaceae5
- Tetrachondraceae3
- Plocospermataceae1