Editing Acanthaceae

{{Short description|Family of flowering plants comprising the acanthus}}
{{Automatic taxobox
|image = Acanthus mollis spike pair Erice.jpg
|image_caption = ''[[Acanthus mollis]]''
|taxon = Acanthaceae
|authority = [[Antoine Laurent de Jussieu|Juss.]]<ref name="GRIN">{{cite web |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/family.pl?6 |title=Family: ''Acanthaceae'' Juss., nom. cons. |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |date=2003-01-17 |access-date=2011-07-29}}</ref><ref name=APGIII2009>{{Cite journal |last=Angiosperm Phylogeny Group |year=2009 |title=An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=161 |issue=2 |pages=105–121 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x |doi-access=free |hdl=10654/18083 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
|type_genus = ''[[Acanthus (plant)|Acanthus]]''
|type_genus_authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
|subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies
|subdivision_ref = <ref name="GRIN"/>
|subdivision =
{{unbulleted list
|[[Acanthoideae]]
|[[Avicennioideae]]
|[[Nelsonioideae]]
|[[Thunbergioideae]]
}}
|synonyms =
{{unbulleted list
|Avicenniaceae <small>Miq.</small>, nom. cons.
|Justiciaceae <small>Raf.</small>
|Mendonciaceae <small>[[Cornelis Eliza Bertus Bremekamp|Bremek]].</small>
|Meyeniaceae <small>Sreem.</small>
|Nelsoniaceae <small>Sreem.</small>
|Thunbergiaceae <small>Lilja</small><ref name="GRIN"/>
}}
}}

'''Acanthaceae''' ({{IPAc-en|ae|k|ae|n|'|T|eI|s|i:|%|aI|,_|-|s|i|%|i}}) is a [[Family (biology)|family]] (the '''acanthus''' family) of [[dicotyledon]]ous [[flowering plant]]s containing almost 250 genera and about 2500 species. Most are [[Tropics|tropical]] [[Herbaceous plant|herbs]], [[shrub]]s, or twining vines; some are [[epiphytes]]. Only a few species are distributed in [[temperate]] regions. The four main centres of distribution are [[Indonesia]] and [[Malaysia]], [[Africa]], [[Brazil]], and [[Central America]]. Representatives of the family can be found in nearly every [[Habitat (ecology)|habitat]], including dense or open [[forest]]s, [[scrubland]]s, wet fields and valleys, sea [[coast]] and marine areas, [[swamp]]s, and [[mangrove]] forests.

==Description==
Plants in this family have simple, opposite, [[decussate]]d [[leaf|leaves]] with entire (or sometimes toothed, lobed, or spiny) margins, and without [[stipule]]s. The leaves may contain [[cystolith]]s, [[calcium carbonate]] concretions, seen as streaks on the surface.

The [[flower]]s are perfect, [[Floral symmetry|zygomorphic]] to nearly [[Floral symmetry|actinomorphic]], and arranged in an [[inflorescence]] that is either a [[raceme|spike]], [[raceme]], or [[cyme (botany)|cyme]]. Typically, a colorful [[bract]] subtends each flower; in some species, the bract is large and showy. The [[Sepal|calyx]] usually has four or five lobes; the [[Petal#Corolla|corolla]] tubular, two-lipped or five-lobed; [[stamen]]s number either two or four, arranged in pairs and inserted on the corolla, and the [[carpel|ovary]] is superior and bicarpellated, with axile [[placentation]].

The [[fruit]] is a two-celled [[capsule (fruit)|capsule]], [[Dehiscence (botany)|dehiscing]] somewhat explosively. In most species, the [[seed]]s are attached to a small, hooked stalk (a modified [[Ovule|funiculus]] called a [[jaculator]] or a retinaculum) that ejects them from the capsule. This trait is shared by all members of the clade [[Acanthoideae]]. A 1995 study of seed expulsion in Acanthaceae used high speed video pictures to show that retinacula propel seeds away from the parent plant when the fruits dehisce, thereby helping the plant gain maximum [[seed dispersal]] range.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Witztum|first1=A|last2=Schulgasser|first2=K|date=1995|title=The mechanics of seed expulsion in Acanthaceae|journal=Journal of Theoretical Biology|volume=176|issue=4|pages=531–542|doi=10.1006/jtbi.1995.0219|bibcode=1995JThBi.176..531W}}</ref>

A species well known to [[temperate]] gardeners is bear's breeches (''[[Acanthus mollis]]''), a herbaceous [[perennial plant]] with big leaves and flower spikes up to 2 m tall. [[Tropics|Tropical]] genera familiar to gardeners include ''[[Thunbergia]]'' and ''[[Justicia (plant)|Justicia]]''.

''[[Avicennia]]'', a genus of [[mangrove]] trees, usually placed in [[Verbenaceae]] or in its own family, [[Avicenniaceae]], is included in Acanthaceae by the [[Angiosperm Phylogeny Group]] on the basis of [[Molecular phylogenetics|molecular phylogenetic]] studies that show it to be associated with this family.

==Medicinal uses==
Traditionally the most important part use in Acanthaceae is the leaves and they are used externally for wounds.
Some research has indicated that Acanthaceae possess [[wikt:antifungal|antifungal]], [[cytotoxic]], [[anti-inflammatory]], [[anti-pyretic]], [[antioxidant]], [[insecticidal]], [[hepatoprotective]], [[immunomodulatory]], [[anti- platelet aggregation|anti-platelet aggregation]] and [[anti-viral potential]].<ref name="Awan, A.J. 2014 44–55">{{cite journal| last = Awan, A.J.| first = Aslam, M.S. | title = FAMILY ACANTHACEAE AND GENUS APHELANDRA: ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL REVIEW.| journal = International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | volume = 6| issue = 10| year = 2014| pages = 44–55}}</ref>

For instance, ''[[Acanthus ilicifolius]]'', whose chemical composition has been heavily researched, is widely used in ethnopharmaceutical applications, including in Indian and Chinese [[traditional medicine]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wostmann|first1=R|last2=Liebezeit|first2=G|date=2008|title=Chemical composition of the mangrove holly Acanthus ilicifolius (Acanthaceae)—review and additional data|journal=Senckenbergiana Maritima|volume=38|pages=31–37|doi=10.1007/bf03043866|s2cid=38592501}}</ref> Various parts of ''Acanthus ilicifolius'' have been used to treat [[asthma]], [[Diabetes mellitus|diabetes]], [[leprosy]], [[hepatitis]], [[Snakebite|snake bites]], and [[rheumatoid arthritis]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bandaranayake|first=W. M.|date=1998|title=Traditional and medicinal uses of mangroves|journal=Mangroves and Salt Marshes|volume=2|issue=3|pages=133–148|doi=10.1023/a:1009988607044|s2cid=129317332}}</ref> The leaves of ''[[Acanthus ebracteatus]]'', noted for their [[Antioxidant effect of polyphenols and natural phenols|antioxidant]] properties, are used for making Thai herbal tea in [[Thailand]] and [[Indonesia]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Chan|first1=E. W. C.|last2=Eng|first2=S. Y.|last3=Tan|first3=Y. P.|last4=Wong|first4=Z. C.|last5=Lye|first5=P. Y.|last6=Tan|first6=L. N.|date=2012|title=Antioxidant and Sensory Properties of Thai Herbal Teas with Emphasis on Thunbergia laurifolia Lindl|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259979053|journal=Chiang Mai J. Sci.|volume=39 | issue = 4 |pages=599–609}}</ref>

==Phytochemistry==
Phytochemical reports on family Acanthaceae are [[glycosides]], [[flavonoids]], [[benzonoids]], [[phenols|phenolic compounds]], [[naphthoquinone]] and [[triterpenoids]].<ref name="Awan, A.J. 2014 44–55"/>

== Overview of systematics ==
Since the first comprehensive classification of Acanthaceae in 1847 by [[Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck|Nees]],<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Nees|first=C. G.|date=1847|editor-last=de Candolle|editor-first=A. P.|title=Acanthaceae|journal=Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis|volume=11|pages=46–519}}</ref> there have been a few major revisions presented since for the whole family.

[[Gustav Lindau|Lindau]], in 1895, divided the family into the subfamilies Mendoncioideae, [[Thunbergioideae]], [[Nelsonioideae]], and [[Acanthoideae]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lindau|first=G.|date=1895|editor-last=Engler|editor-first=A.|editor2-last=Prantl|editor2-first=K.|title=Acanthaceae|journal=Die Natuirlichen Pflanzenfamilien|volume=4 |issue=3b |pages=274–353}}</ref> Critically, Mendoncioideae, Thunbergioideae, and Nelsonioideae do not possess retinaculate fruits—and it is this distinction, between classifying Acanthaceae into a family that includes those clades with non-retinaculate fruits and one that excludes them, that still persists to the modern day.

[[Cornelis Eliza Bertus Bremekamp|Bremekamp]], in 1965, presented a classification of Acanthaceae that differed from that of Lindau, for his Acanthaceae excluded genera that lack retinaculate fruits.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bremekamp|first=C. E. B.|date=1965|title=Delimitation and subdivision of the Acanthaceae|journal=Bull. Bot. Surv. India|volume=7|pages=21–30}}</ref> He placed Nelsonioideae within [[Scrophulariaceae]], classified Thunbergiaceae and Mendonciaceae as distinct families and divided his Acanthaceae into two groups (Acanthoideae and Ruelloideae) based on the presence or absence of [[cystolith]]s, articulate [[Plant stem|stems]], monothecate [[Stamen|anthers]], and colpate [[pollen]].

In Scotland and Vollesen's 2000 study,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Scotland|first1=R. W.|last2=Vollesen|first2=K.|date=2000|title=Classification of Acanthaceae|journal=Kew Bulletin|volume=55|issue=3|pages=513–589|doi=10.2307/4118776|jstor=4118776|bibcode=2000KewBu..55..513S }}</ref> they accepted 221 [[Genus|genera]] and detailed five major groups within Acanthaceae s.s. (that is, those possessing retinaculate fruits), which is equivalent to Acanthoideae Link sensu Lindau 1895. Out of those 221 genera, they placed 201 of them into seven infrafamilial taxa of Acanthaceae, leaving only 20 unplaced.

In the current understanding of Acanthaceae, Acanthaceae [[Sensu|s.s.]] includes only those [[clade]]s with retinaculate fruits (that is, [[species:Acantheae|Acantheae]], [[species:Barlerieae|Barlerieae]], [[species:Andrographideae|Andrographideae]], Whitfieldeae, [[species:Ruellieae|Ruellieae]], and Justiceae), while Acanthaceae [[Sensu|s.l.]] includes those clades as well as Thunbergioideae, Nelsonioideae, and ''[[Avicennia]].''<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Tripp|first1=E. A.|last2=Daniel|first2=T. F.|last3=Fatimah|first3=S.|last4=McDade|first4=L. A.|date=2013|title=Phylogenetic Relationships within Ruellieae (Acanthaceae) and a Revised Classification|journal=International Journal of Plant Sciences|volume=174 | issue = 1 |pages=97–137|doi=10.1086/668248|s2cid=84423889}}</ref>

== Dating the Acanthaceae lineage ==
Much research, using both molecular data and [[fossil]]s, has been conducted in recent years regarding the dating and distribution of the Acanthaceae and [[Lamiales]] lineage, although there still remains some ambiguity.

In a 2004 study on the molecular phylogenetic dating of asterid flowering plants, researchers estimated 106 million years (MY) for the stem lineage of Lamiales, 67 MY for the stem lineage of Acanthaceae, and 54 MY for the [[Crown group|crown node]] of Acanthaceae (that is, the age of extant lineages with the family).<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bremer|first1=K.|last2=Friis|first2=E. M.|last3=Bremer|first3=B.|date=2004|title=Molecular phylogenetic dating of asterid flowering plants shows Early Cretaceous diversification|journal=Systematic Biology|volume=53|issue=3|pages=496–505|doi=10.1080/10635150490445913|pmid=15503676|doi-access=free}}</ref> These estimates are older than those based on fossils that can confidently be assigned to Lamiales, which are middle [[Eocene]] in age, ca. 48-37 MY.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Pigg|first1=K. B.|last2=Wehr|first2=W. C.|date=2002|title=Tertiary flowers, fruits, and seeds of Washington state and adjacent areas—Part III|url=https://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_washington_geology_2002_v30_no3-4.pdf|journal=Washington Geology|volume=30|pages=3–16}}</ref> [[Palynology#Palynomorphs|Palynomorphs]] that definitively show the existence of Acanthaceae are known from the upper [[Miocene]], with the oldest ca. 22 MY.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Medus|first=J.|date=1975|title=Palynologie de sediments tertiaires de Sénégal mé ridional|journal=Pollen et Spores|volume=17|pages=545–608}}</ref>

==Genera==
[[File:Asystasia gangetica in Hyderabad W IMG 4769.jpg|thumb|right|Chinese violet (''[[Asystasia gangetica]]'')]]
[[File:Barleria sp. in Talakona forest, AP W IMG 8542.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Barleria]]'' sp.]]
[[File:Acanthaceae leaf.jpg|thumb|right|Leaf of the nerve plant (''[[Fittonia verschaffeltii]]'')]]
[[File:2006 08 14 Hypoestes Phyllostachya.jpg|thumb|right|Polka dot plant (''[[Hypoestes phyllostachya]]'')]]
[[File:Starr 021122 0083 justicia aurea.jpg|right|thumb|''[[Justicia aurea]]'']]
[[File:Louteridium panamensis.JPG|right|thumb|''Louteridium panemensis'']]
[[File:Peristrophe speciosa1.jpg|thumb|right|''Strobilanthes hamiltoniana'']]
[[File:Pseuderanthemum maculatum W IMG 1124.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Pseuderanthemum maculatum]]'']]
[[File:Wayside Tuberose -Ruella tuberosa- flower in Hyderabad, AP W IMG 6628.jpg|right|thumb|Popping pod (''[[Ruellia tuberosa]]'' )]]
[[File:Rostellularia species in Talakona forest, AP W IMG 8313.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Rostellularia]]'' sp.]]
[[File:Thunbergia laurifolia (Blue Trumpet wine) W IMG 1973.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Thunbergia laurifolia]]'']]

{{As of|2021|12|2}}, the [[Germplasm Resources Information Network]] accepts 217 genera.<ref>{{cite web |title=Acanthaceae GRIN-Global |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomyfamily?id=6 |website=npgsweb.ars-grin.gov |access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref> As of January 2024, [[Plants of the World Online]] accepts 207 genera.<ref name = powo>{{cite web |title=''Acanthaceae'' Juss. {{!}} Plants of the World Online {{!}} Kew Science |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30000618-2 |website=Plants of the World Online |access-date=18 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

{{Columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* ''[[Acanthopale]]'' <small>C.B.Clarke</small>
* ''[[Acanthopsis]]'' <small>Harv.</small>
* ''Acanthostelma'' <small>Bidgood & Brummitt</small> – synonym of ''[[Crabbea]]''
* ''Acanthura'' <small>Lindau</small> – synonym of ''[[Lepidagathis]]''
* ''[[Acanthus (plant)|Acanthus]]'' <small>L.</small> ('bear's breech/britches')
* ''Achyrocalyx'' <small>Benoist</small> - synonym of ''[[Stenandriopsis]]''
* ''Aechmanthera''  – synonym of ''[[Strobilanthes]]''
* ''Adhatoda'' <small>Mill.</small> – synonym of ''[[Justicia (plant)|Justicia]]''
* ''[[Afrofittonia]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''[[Ambongia]]'' <small>Benoist</small>
* ''[[Ancistranthus]]'' <small>Lindau</small> ('desert honeysuckle')
* ''[[Andrographis]]'' <small>Wall. ex Nees</small> ('false waterwillow')
* ''[[Angkalanthus]]'' <small>Balf.f.</small>
* ''[[Anisacanthus]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Anisosepalum]]'' <small>E.Hossain</small>
* ''[[Anisostachya]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Anisotes]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Anomacanthus]]'' <small>R.D.Good</small>
* ''Apassalus'' <small>Kobuski</small> – synonym of ''[[Dyschoriste]]''
* ''[[Aphanosperma]]'' <small>T.F.Daniel</small>
* ''[[Aphelandra]]'' <small>R.Br.</small> (including ''[[Aphelandra squarrosa|A. squarrosa]]'', 'zebra plant')
* ''Aphelandrella'' <small>Mildbr.</small> – synonym of ''[[Aphelandra]]''
* ''[[Ascotheca]]'' <small>Heine</small>
* ''[[Asystasia]]'' <small>Blume</small>
* ''Asystasiella'' <small>Lindau</small> – synonym of ''[[Asystasia]]''
* ''[[Avicennia]]'' <small>L.</small>
* ''[[Aymoreana]]'' {{small|Braz, T.F.Daniel & Kiel}}
* ''[[Ballochia]]'' <small>Balf.f.</small>
* ''[[Barleria]]'' <small>L.</small> ('bush violets')
* ''[[Barleriola]]'' <small>Oerst</small>
* ''Benoicanthus'' <small>Heine & A.Raynal</small> – synonym of ''[[Ruellia]]''
* ''Blechum'' <small>P.Browne</small> – synonym of ''[[Ruellia]]''
* ''[[Blepharis]]'' <small>Juss.</small>
* ''[[Borneacanthus]]'' <small>[[Cornelis Eliza Bertus Bremekamp|Bremek.]]</small>
* ''[[Boutonia]]'' <small>DC.</small>
* ''[[Brachystephanus]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Bravaisia]]'' <small>DC.</small>
* ''[[Brillantaisia]]'' <small>P.Beauv.</small>
* ''[[Brunoniella]]'' {{small|Bremek.}}
* ''[[Calacanthus]]'' <small>T.Anderson ex Benth. & Hook.f.</small>
* ''Calophanoides'' <small>(C.B.Clarke) Ridl.</small> – synonym of ''[[Justicia (plant)|Justicia]]''
* ''[[Calycacanthus]]'' <small>K.Schum.</small>
* ''[[Camarotea]]'' <small>Scott-Elliot</small>
* ''[[Carlowrightia]]'' <small>A.Gray</small> (wrightwort)
* ''[[Celerina (plant)|Celerina]]'' <small>Benoist</small>
* ''[[Cephalacanthus]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''[[Cephalophis]]'' <small>Vollesen</small>
* ''[[Chalarothyrsus]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''[[Chamaeranthemum]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''Championella'' <small>[[Cornelis Eliza Bertus Bremekamp|Bremek.]]</small> – synonym of ''[[Strobilanthes]]''
* ''[[Champluviera]]'' {{small|I.Darbysh., T.F.Daniel & Kiel}}
* ''[[Chileranthemum]]'' <small>Oerst.</small>
* ''[[Chlamydacanthus]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''[[Chlamydocardia]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''Chlamydostachya'' <small>Mildbr.</small> – synonym of ''[[Anisotes]]''
* ''[[Chorisochora]]'' {{small|Vollesen}}
* ''[[Chroesthes]]'' <small>Benoist</small>
* ''[[Clinacanthus]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Clistax]]'' <small>Mart.</small>
* ''[[Codonacanthus]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Conocalyx]]'' <small>Benoist</small>
* ''Corymbostachys'' <small>Lindau</small> – synonym of ''[[Anisostachya]]''
* ''[[Cosmianthemum]]'' <small>[[Cornelis Eliza Bertus Bremekamp|Bremek.]]</small>
* ''[[Crabbea]]'' <small>Harv.</small>
* ''[[Crossandra]]'' <small>Salisb.</small>
* ''[[Crossandrella]]'' <small>C.B.Clarke</small>
* ''[[Cuenotia]]'' {{small|Rizzini}}
* ''[[Cyclacanthus]]'' <small>S.Moore</small>
* ''Cylindrosolenium'' <small>Lindau</small> – synonym of ''[[Stenostephanus]]''
* ''[[Cynarospermum]]'' {{small|Vollesen}}
* ''[[Cyphacanthus]]'' <small>Leonard</small>
* ''Dactylostegium'' <small>Nees</small> synonym of ''[[Dicliptera]]''
* ''Danguya'' <small>Benoist</small> – synonym of ''[[Anisotes]]''
* ''[[Dasytropis]]'' <small>Urb.</small>
* ''[[Dianthera]]'' {{small|L.}} (synonyms: ''Amphiscopia, Centrilla, Diplanthera, Jungia'')
* ''[[Diceratotheca]]'' {{small|J.R.I.Wood & Scotland}}
* ''[[Dichazothece]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''[[Dicladanthera]]'' <small>F.Muell.</small>
* ''[[Dicliptera]]'' <small>Juss.</small> (Foldwing)
* ''Didyplosandra'' <small>Wight ex [[Cornelis Eliza Bertus Bremekamp|Bremek]].</small> – synonym of ''[[Strobilanthes]]''
* ''Dipteracanthus'' <small>Nees</small> – synonym of ''[[Ruellia]]''
* ''[[Dinteracanthus]]'' {{small|C.B.Clarke ex Schinz}}
* ''[[Dischistocalyx]]'' <small>T.Anderson ex Benth. & Hook.f.</small>
* ''[[Dolichostachys]]'' <small>Benoist</small>
* ''Drejera'' <small>Nees</small> – synonym of ''[[Thyrsacanthus]]''
* ''Drejerella'' <small>Lindau</small> – synonym of ''[[Justicia (plant)|Justicia]]''
* ''[[Duosperma]]'' <small>Dayton</small>
* ''[[Dyschoriste]]'' <small>Nees</small> (snakeherb)
* ''[[Ecbolium]]'' <small>Kurz</small>
* ''[[Echinacanthus]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Elytraria]]'' <small>Michx.</small> (scalystem)
* ''Encephalosphaera'' <small>Lindau</small> – synonym of ''[[Aphelandra]]''
* ''Epiclastopelma'' <small>Lindau</small> – synonym of ''[[Mimulopsis]]''
* ''[[Eranthemum]]'' <small>L.</small>
* ''[[Eremomastax]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''Eusiphon'' <small>Benoist</small> – synonym of ''[[Ruellia]]''
* ''[[Filetia]]'' <small>Miq.</small>
* ''[[Fittonia]]'' <small>Coem.</small> (nerve plants)
* ''[[Forcipella]]'' <small>Baill.</small>
* ''Forsythiopsis'' <small>Baker</small> – synonym of ''[[Oplonia]]''
* ''Geissomeria'' <small>Lindl.</small> – synonym of ''[[Aphelandra]]''
* ''[[Glossochilus]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''Golaea'' <small>Chiov.</small> – synonym of ''[[Crabbea]]''
* ''[[Graphandra]]'' <small>J.B.Imlay</small>
* ''[[Graptophyllum]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Gymnophragma]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''[[Gymnostachyum]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''Gynocraterium'' <small>[[Cornelis Eliza Bertus Bremekamp|Bremek]].</small> – synonym of ''[[Staurogyne]]''
* ''[[Gypsacanthus]]'' <small>E.J.Lott et al.</small>
* ''[[Haplanthodes]]'' <small>Kuntze</small>
* ''[[Haplanthus]]'' {{small|Nees}}
* ''[[Harpochilus]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''Hemiadelphis'' <small>Nees</small> – synonym of ''[[Hygrophila (plant)|Hygrophila]]''
* ''[[Hemigraphis]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Henrya (plant)|Henrya]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Herpetacanthus]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Heteradelphia]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''[[Holographis]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Hoverdenia]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Hulemacanthus]]'' <small>S.Moore</small>
* ''[[Hygrophila (plant)|Hygrophila]]'' <small>R.Br.</small> ('swampweed')
* ''[[Hypoestes]]''  ('polka-dot plants'; includes ''Periestes'')
* ''[[Ichthyostoma]]'' {{small|Hedrén & Vollesen}}
* ''Ionacanthus'' <small>Benoist</small> – synonym of ''[[Mellera]]''
* ''[[Isoglossa]]'' <small>Oerst.</small>
* ''[[Isotheca]]'' <small>Turrill</small>
* ''[[Jadunia]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''Juruasia'' <small>Lindau</small> – synonym of ''[[Herpetacanthus]]''
* ''[[Justicia (plant)|Justicia]]'' <small>L.</small> (justicia, 'water-willow', 'shrimp plant')
* ''Kalbreyeriella'' <small>Lindau</small> – synonym of ''[[Stenostephanus]]''
* ''[[Kenyacanthus]]'' {{small|I.Darbysh. & Kiel}}
* ''[[Kosmosiphon]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''[[Kudoacanthus]]'' <small>Hosok.</small>
* ''[[Lankesteria (plant)|Lankesteria]]'' <small>Lindl.</small>
* ''[[Lasiocladus]]'' <small>Bojer ex Nees</small>
* ''[[Leandriella]]'' <small>Benoist</small>
* ''[[Lepidagathis]]'' <small>Willd.</small>
* ''[[Leptosiphonium]]'' {{small|F.Muell.}}
* ''[[Leptostachya]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Liberatia]]'' <small>Rizzini</small>
* ''[[Linariantha]]'' <small>B.L.Burtt & [[R.M.Sm.]]</small>
* ''Lophostachys'' <small>Pohl</small> – synonym of ''[[Lepidagathis]]''
* ''[[Louteridium]]'' <small>S.Watson</small>
* ''Lychniothyrsus'' <small>Lindau</small> – synonym of ''[[Ruellia]]''
* ''[[Mackaya]]'' {{small|Harv.}}
* ''[[Marcania]]'' <small>J.B.Imlay</small>
* ''[[Mcdadea]]'' {{small|E.A.Tripp & I.Darbysh.}}
* ''[[Megalochlamys]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''Megalostoma'' <small>Leonard</small> – synonym of ''[[Justicia (plant)|Justicia]]''
* ''[[Megaskepasma]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''[[Meiosperma]]'' {{small|Raf.}}
* ''[[Melittacanthus]]'' <small>S.Moore</small>
* ''[[Mellera]]'' <small>S.Moore</small>
* ''[[Mendoncia]]'' <small>Vand.</small>
* ''[[Metarungia]]'' <small>Baden</small>
* ''[[Mexacanthus]]'' <small>T.F.Daniel</small>
* ''[[Meyenia]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Mimulopsis]]'' <small>Schweinf.</small>
* ''[[Mirandea]]'' <small>Rzed.</small>
* ''Monechma'' <small>Hochst.</small> – synonym of ''[[Meiosperma]]''
* ''[[Monothecium]]'' <small>Hochst.</small>
* ''[[Morsacanthus]]'' <small>Rizzini</small>
* ''[[Nelsonia (plant)|Nelsonia]]'' <small>R.Br.</small>
* ''Neohallia'' <small>Hemsl.</small> – synonym of ''[[Justicia (plant)|Justicia]]''
* ''[[Neriacanthus]]'' <small>Benth.</small>
* ''[[Neuracanthus]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Nicoteba]]'' {{small|Lindau}}
* ''[[Odontonema]]'' <small>Nees</small> ('toothedthread')
* ''Ophiorrhiziphyllon'' <small>Kurz</small> – synonym of ''[[Staurogyne]]''
* ''[[Oplonia]]'' <small>Raf.</small>
* ''Oreacanthus'' <small>Benth.</small> – synonym of ''[[Brachystephanus]]''
* ''Orophochilus'' <small>Lindau</small> – synonym of ''[[Aphelandra]]''
* ''[[Pachystachys]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''Pachystrobilus'' <small>Bremek.</small> – synonym of ''[[Strobilanthes]]''
* ''[[Pararuellia]]'' {{small|Bremek. & Nann.-Bremek.}}
* ''Pelecostemon'' <small>Leonard</small> – synonym of ''[[Justicia (plant)|Justicia]]''
* ''Pentstemonacanthus'' <small>Nees</small> – synonym of ''[[Ruellia]]''
* ''Perenideboles'' <small>Ram.Goyena</small> – synonym of ''[[Megaskepasma]]''
* ''[[Pericalypta]]'' <small>Benoist</small>
* ''Peristrophe'' <small>Nees</small> – synonym of ''[[Dicliptera]]''
* ''[[Petalidium]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Phaulopsis]]'' <small>Willd.</small>
* ''[[Phialacanthus]]'' <small>Benth.</small>
* ''Phidiasia'' <small>Urb.</small> – synonym of ''[[Odontonema]]''
* ''[[Phlogacanthus]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Physacanthus]]'' <small>Benth.</small>
* ''[[Podorungia]]'' <small>Baill.</small>
* ''[[Pogonospermum]]'' {{small|Hochst.}}
* ''[[Poikilacanthus]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''[[Polylychnis]]'' <small>[[Cornelis Eliza Bertus Bremekamp|Bremek.]]</small>
* ''[[Populina (plant)|Populina]]'' <small>Baill.</small>
* ''[[Pranceacanthus]]'' <small>Wassh.</small>
* ''[[Pseudacanthopale]]'' {{small|Benoist}}
* ''[[Pseuderanthemum]]'' <small>Radlk.</small>
* ''[[Pseudocalyx]]'' <small>Radlk.</small>
* ''[[Pseudodicliptera]]'' <small>Benoist</small>
* ''Pseudoruellia'' <small>Benoist</small> – synonym of ''[[Ruellia]]''
* ''[[Psilanthele]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''[[Psiloesthes]]'' {{small|Benoist}}
* ''[[Ptyssiglottis]]'' <small>T.Anderson</small>
* ''[[Pulchranthus]]'' <small>V.M.Baum et al.</small>
* ''Pupilla'' <small>Rizzini</small> – synonym of ''[[Justicia (plant)|Justicia]]''
* ''Razisea'' <small>Oerst.</small> – synonym of ''[[Stenostephanus]]''
* ''[[Rhaphidospora]]'' {{small|Nees}}
* ''[[Rhinacanthus]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''Rhombochlamys'' <small>Lindau</small> – synonym of ''[[Aphelandra]]''
* ''[[Ritonia]]'' <small>Benoist</small>
* ''[[Rostellularia]]'' <small>Rchb.</small>
* ''[[Ruellia]]'' <small>L.</small> ('wild petunia')
* ''[[Ruelliopsis]]'' <small>C.B.Clarke</small>
* ''[[Rungia]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Ruspolia (plant)|Ruspolia]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''[[Ruttya]]'' <small>Harv.</small>
* ''[[× Ruttyruspolia]]'' {{small|A.Meeuse & de Wet}} (''Ruspolia × Ruttya'')
* ''[[Saintpauliopsis]]'' <small>Staner</small>
* ''Salpinctium'' <small>T.J.Edwards</small> – synonym of ''[[Asystasia]]''
* ''[[Salpixantha]]'' <small>Hook.</small>
* ''[[Samuelssonia]]'' <small>Urb. & Ekman</small>
* ''[[Sanchezia]]'' <small>Ruiz & Pav.</small>
* ''Santapaua'' <small>N.P.Balakr. & Subr.</small> – synonym of ''Hygrophila''
* ''[[Sapphoa]]'' <small>Urb.</small>
* ''[[Satanocrater]]'' <small>Schweinf.</small>
* ''Sautiera'' <small>Decne.</small> – synonym of ''[[Dyschoriste]]''
* ''[[Schaueria]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Schaueriopsis]]'' {{small|Champl. & I.Darbysh.}}
* ''[[Schwabea]]'' <small>Endl.</small> – unplaced
* ''[[Sclerochiton]]'' <small>Harv.</small>
* ''[[Sebastiano-schaueria]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Sericospora]]'' <small>Nees</small> – unplaced
* ''Siphonoglossa'' <small>Oerst.</small> – synonym of ''Justicia''
* ''[[Spathacanthus]]'' <small>Baill.</small>
* ''[[Sphacanthus]]'' <small>Benoist</small>
* ''[[Sphinctacanthus]]'' <small>Benth.</small>
* ''Spirostigma'' <small>Nees</small> – synonym of ''Ruellia''
* ''[[Stachyacanthus]]'' {{small|Nees}}
* ''Standleyacanthus'' <small>Leonard</small> – synonym of ''Herpetacanthus''
* ''[[Staurogyne]]'' <small>Wall.</small> (including ''[[Staurogyne repens|S. repens]]'')
* ''Steirosanchezia'' <small>Lindau</small> – synonym of ''Sanchezia''
* ''[[Stenandriopsis]]'' <small>S.Moore</small>
* ''[[Stenandrium]]'' <small>Nees</small> (shaggytuft)
* ''[[Stenostephanus]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''[[Stenothyrsus]]'' {{small|C.B.Clarke}}
* ''[[Streblacanthus]]'' <small>Kuntze</small>
* ''[[Streptosiphon]]'' <small>Mildbr.</small>
* ''[[Strobilanthes]]'' <small>Blume</small> ('[[Strobilanthes hamiltoniana|Chinese rain-bell]]', '[[Strobilanthes dyeriana|Persian shield]]')
* ''[[Strobilanthopsis]]'' <small>S.Moore</small>
* ''Styasasia'' <small>S.Moore</small> – synonym of ''[[Asystasia]]''
* ''[[Suessenguthia]]'' <small>Merxm.</small>
* ''[[Symplectochilus]]'' {{small|Lindau}}
* ''Synchoriste'' <small>Baill.</small> – synonym of ''[[Lasiocladus]]''
* ''[[Tabascina]]'' {{small|Baill.}}
* ''Taeniandra'' <small>[[Cornelis Eliza Bertus Bremekamp|Bremek.]]</small> – synonym of ''[[Strobilanthes]]''
* ''Tarphochlamys'' <small>[[Cornelis Eliza Bertus Bremekamp|Bremek.]]</small> – synonym of ''Strobilanthes''
* ''Teliostachya'' <small>Nees</small> – synonym of ''[[Lepidagathis]]''
* ''[[Tessmanniacanthus]]'' <small>Mildbr.</small>
* ''[[Tetramerium]]'' <small>Nees</small>
* ''Theileamea'' <small>Baill.</small> – synonym of ''[[Chlamydacanthus]]''
* ''[[Thunbergia]]'' <small>Retz.</small>
* ''[[Thyrsacanthus]]'' {{small|Moric.}}
* ''[[Thysanostigma]]'' <small>J.B.Imlay</small>
* ''Tremacanthus'' <small>S.Moore</small> – synonym of ''Ruellia''
* ''Triaenanthus'' <small>Nees</small> – synonym of ''Strobilanthes''
* ''[[Trichanthera]]'' <small>Kunth</small>
* ''[[Trichaulax (plant)|Trichaulax]]'' <small>Vollesen</small>
* ''[[Trichocalyx]]'' <small>Balf.f.</small>
* ''[[Trichosanchezia]]'' <small>Mildbr.</small>
* ''Ulleria'' <small>[[Cornelis Eliza Bertus Bremekamp|Bremek.]]</small> – synonym of ''Ruellia''
* ''[[Vavara]]'' <small>Benoist</small>
* ''[[Vindasia]]'' <small>Benoist</small>
* ''Warpuria'' <small>Stapf</small> – synonym of ''[[Podorungia]]''
* ''[[Whitfieldia]]'' <small>Hook.</small>
* ''[[Wuacanthus]]'' {{small|Y.F.Deng, N.H.Xia & H.Peng}}
* ''[[Xantheranthemum]]'' <small>Lindau</small>
* ''[[Xerothamnella]]'' <small>C.T.White</small>
* ''[[Xylacanthus (plant)|Xylacanthus]]'' <small>Aver. & K.S.Nguyen</small>
* ''[[Yeatesia]]'' <small>Small</small> (Bractspike)
* ''[[Zygoruellia]]'' <small>Baill.</small><ref name="ITIS">{{ITIS |id=34350 |taxon=Acanthaceae |access-date=2011-07-29}}</ref>
}}

===Excluded genera===
* ''[[Thomandersia]]'' <small>Baill.</small> → [[Thomandersia]]ceae<ref>{{cite journal| last1 = Wortley, A.H.| first1 = Harris, D.J. & Scotland, R.W. | title = On the Taxonomy and Phylogenetic Position of Thomandersia.| journal = Systematic Botany | volume =  32| issue = 2| year = 2007| pages = 415–444| doi=10.1600/036364407781179716| last2 = Harris| first2 = D. J.| last3 = Scotland| first3 = R. W.| s2cid = 85726050 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/gnothlist.pl?6 |title=GRIN genera sometimes placed in ''Acanthaceae'' |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |access-date=2011-07-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041118054937/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/gnothlist.pl?6 |archive-date=2004-11-18 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite journal|author1=Schwarzbach, Andrea E.  |author2=McDade, Lucinda A.|title= Phylogenetic relationships of the mangrove family ''Avicenniaceae'' based on chloroplast and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences|journal= Systematic Botany|volume= 27|pages=84–98|year=2002|issue=1|doi=10.1043/0363-6445-27.1.84|doi-broken-date=1 November 2024|jstor=3093897}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikispecies}}
* [http://tolweb.org/Acanthaceae/20878 Tree of Life Acanthaceae]
* [http://www.flowersinisrael.com/FamAcanthaceae.htm Family Acanthaceae] Flowers in Israel.
* [https://www.botanical-dermatology-database.info/BotDermFolder/ACAN.html Acanthaceae] in [https://www.botanical-dermatology-database.info/index.html BoDD – Botanical Dermatology Database]

{{Angiosperm families}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q53475}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Acanthaceae| ]]
[[Category:Lamiales families]]