ACANTHACEAE

 

Greek origin.  Acanthus – A thorn.

 

 A  large family consisting mostly herbs, shrubs and lianas. Leaves opposite and decussate. Inflorescence commonly a dichasial cyme. Other types such as monochasium, solitary flowers are also found in many taxa. The family can be easily distinguished because of the presence of a) cystoliths in vegetative parts, b)  Presence of floral bracts and bracteoles, c) tube like flowers and bilabiate corolla, d) bilocular ovary, e) dehiscing capsules and  f) usually curved retinacula. The family Scropulariaceae is closely related to Acanthaceae, but can be separated from  unilocular ovary and parietal placentation.