Acanthaceae Facts for Kids - Kiddle.
Acanthaceae is a family (the acanthus family) of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing almost 250 genera and about 2500 species. Most are tropical herbs, shrubs, 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.A diverse family, Acanthaceae has few universal characteristics among its members. Most have simple leaves arranged in opposite pairs, with cystoliths (enlarged cells containing crystals of calcium carbonate) in streaks or protuberances in the vegetative parts. The bisexual flowers are frequently bilaterally symmetrical and are usually enclosed by leaflike bracts, often coloured and large.Distribution of Acanthaceae: It is commonly known as Acanthus family. It includes 250 genera and 2500 species. The family is chiefly distributed in tropics and sub-tropics. In India 508 species are present. Economic Importance of Acanthaceae: 1. Medicinal: Many plants of the family are medicinal. Adhatoda vasika and Barleria cristata are used.
Introduction. The large and largely tropical plant family Acanthaceae includes at least 4000 species. The group is part of the order Lamiales which includes plants such as the familiar snap dragon (Plantaginaceae), mint (Lamiaceae) and African violet (Gesneriaceae).These plants have sympetalous corollas (i.e., with petals fused into a tube) and four stamens (sometimes reduced further to two).Scientific Names; Synonyms; Common Name; Plant Form; Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees; Lilu Kadu Kariyatu, Kalmegh; Herb; Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson.
The Acanthaceae is a large (ca, 4000 species in some 230 genera) pantropical family. The present paper reviews some of the important plants of these families having medicinal value.
