Acanthaceae

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences | 1998 | 524 words | Copyright

Acanthaceae A family, mainly of shrubs, in which the leaves are simple, opposite, and decussate. The flowers are bisexual and zygomorphic, and the bracts are often showy. There are 4 or 5 fused sepals and petals; 2–4 epipetalous stamens; a superior, bilocular ovary; and numerous, axile (see PLACENTATION) ovules. The fruit is a capsule. There are several ornamentals (e.g. Acanthus, Aphelandra, and Thunbergia). There are 357 genera, comprising about 4350 species, most of them tropical, but with temperate outliers.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Acanthaceae." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Acanthaceae." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-Acanthaceae.html

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