
[New Latin Acanthus, genus name, from Greek akanthos, thorn plant, from akantha, thorn.]
acanthine a·can'thine (-thĭn, -thīn) adj.For more information on acanthus, visit Britannica.com.
A common plant of the Mediterranean, whose leaves, stylized, form the characteristic decoration of capitals of Corinthian and Composite orders. In scroll form it appears on friezes, panels, etc.
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| Acanthus | |
|---|---|
| Acanthus montanus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Acanthaceae |
| Subfamily: | Acanthoideae |
| Tribe: | Acantheae |
| Genus: | Acanthus L. |
| Species | |
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See text |
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| Synonyms | |
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. Common names include Acanthus and Bear's breeches. The generic name is derived from the Greek word ακανθος (acanthos), meaning "thorny."[2]
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.
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Several species, especially A. balcanicus, A. spinosus and A. mollis, are grown as ornamental plants.
Acanthus leaves were the aesthetic basis for Corinthian capitals; see acanthus (ornament).
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Acanthus |
| Wikispecies has information related to: Acanthus |
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Acanthus". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
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