About

Acanthus is a genus of about 30 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical and warm temperate regions, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean Basin and Asia. This flowering plant is nectar-producing and depends on butterflies, such as Anartia fatima, and other nectar-feeding organisms to distribute its pollen. Common names include acanthus and bear's breeches. The genus name derives from Ancient Greek ἄκανθος (ákanthos) for Acanthus mollis, a plant that was commonly imitated in Corinthian capitals.

The genus comprises herbaceous perennial plants, rarely subshrubs, with spiny leaves and flower spikes bearing white or purplish flowers. Size varies from 0.4 to 2 m (1.3 to 6.6 ft) in height.

How to grow it

Acanthus leaves were the aesthetic basis for capitals in the Corinthian order of architecture; Several species, especially A. balcanicus, A. spinosus and A. mollis, are grown as ornamental plants.

Acanthus leaves also have many medicinal uses. Acanthus ilicifolius, whose chemical composition has been heavily researched, is widely used in ethnopharmaceutical applications, including in Indian and Chinese traditional medicine. Various parts of Acanthus ilicifolius have been used to treat asthma, diabetes, leprosy, hepatitis, snake bites, and rheumatoid arthritis. The leaves of Acanthus ebracteatus, noted for their antioxidant properties, are used for making herbal tea in Thailand and Indonesia.

Other Acanthus plants

Acanthus arboreus · Acanthus austromontanus · Acanthus carduaceus · Mountain Thistle · Acanthus dioscoridis · Acanthus · Acanthus eminens · Acanthus flexicaulis · Acanthus gaed · Acanthus guineensis · Syrian Acanthus · Hungarian Bear’s Breeches