''Ruellia'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s commonly known as ruellias or wild petunias. They are not closely related to

petunia ''Petunia'' is genus of 20 species of flowering plants of South American origin. The popular flower of the same name derived its epithet from the French, which took the word ''petun'', meaning "tobacco," from a Tupi–Guarani language. A tende ...

s (''Petunia'') although both genera belong to the same

euasterid In the APG IV system (2016) for the classification of flowering plants, the name asterids denotes a clade (a monophyletic group). Asterids is the largest group of flowering plants, with more than 80,000 species, about a third of the total floweri ...

clade. The genus was named in honor of

Jean Ruelle Jean Ruel (1474 – 24 September 1537), also known as Jean Ruelle or Ioannes Ruellius in its Latinised form, was a French physician and botanist noted for the 1536 publication in Paris of ''De Natura Stirpium'', a Renaissance treatise on botany. ...

(1474–1537),

herbalist Herbal medicine (also herbalism) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. With worldwide research into pharmacology, some herbal medicines have been translated into modern remed ...

and

physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

Francis I of France Francis I (french: François Ier; frm, Francoys; 12 September 1494 – 31 March 1547) was King of France from 1515 until his death in 1547. He was the son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy. He succeeded his first cousin on ...

and translator of several works of

Dioscorides Pedanius Dioscorides ( grc-gre, Πεδάνιος Διοσκουρίδης, ; 40–90 AD), “the father of pharmacognosy”, was a Greek physician, pharmacologist, botanist, and author of '' De materia medica'' (, On Medical Material) —a 5-vo ...

. Apart from the numerous formerly independent genera nowadays considered synonymous with ''Ruellia'', the segregate genera ''Blechum'', '' Eusiphon'', '' Polylychnis'' and '' Ulleria'' are often included in ''Ruellia''. ''

Acanthopale ''Acanthopale'' is a plant genus in the Acanthaceae plant family. The genus name is based on the classic Greek words for thorn ''ákantha'' and stake ''palum''. Some species in the genus are cultivated as ornamental plant Ornamental plants o ...

'', however, is considered a distinct genus. Ruellias are popular

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that ...

s. Some are used as

medicinal plant Medicinal plants, also called medicinal herbs, have been discovered and used in traditional medicine practices since prehistoric times. Plants synthesize hundreds of chemical compounds for various functions, including defense and protection ag ...

s, but many are known or suspected to be poisonous. Their leaves are food for the caterpillars of several Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), typically

Nymphalinae The Nymphalinae are a subfamily of brush-footed butterflies (family Nymphalidae). Sometimes, the subfamilies Limenitidinae, and Biblidinae are included here as subordinate tribe(s), while the tribe Melitaeini is occasionally regarded as a distinc ...

and in particular members of their

tribe The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in part due to confli ...

Junoniini Junoniini is a tribe of nymphalid ( brush-footed) butterflies.

, such as the larvae of the banded peacock (''

Anartia fatima ''Anartia fatima'', the banded peacock, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is commonly found in south Texas, Mexico, and Central America but most studied in Costa Rica. This butterfly prefers subtropical climates and moist areas, such ...

''). Nymphalinae using ''Ruellia'' as host plants include the

common buckeye ''Junonia coenia'', known as the common buckeye or buckeye, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and in Mexico. Its habitat is open areas with low vegetation and some bare ground. ...

(''Junonia coenia''), recorded on '' R. nodiflora'', the

lemon pansy ''Junonia lemonias'', the lemon pansy, is a common nymphalid butterfly found in Cambodia and South Asia. It is found in gardens, fallow land, and open wooded areas. Description It is brown with numerous eyespots as well as black and lemon-ye ...

(''Junonia lemonias''), recorded on '' R. tuberosa'', and the

malachite butterfly ''Siproeta stelenes'' (malachite) is a Neotropical brush-footed butterfly (family Nymphalidae). The malachite has large wings that are black and brilliant green or yellow-green on the upperside and light brown and olive green on the underside. It ...

(''Siproeta stelenes'') and

Australian lurcher ''Yoma sabina'', the Australian lurcher, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the northern Australasian realm and in Southeast Asia. The wingspan is around 7 cm. The larvae feed on '' Dipteracanthus bracteatus'' and '' ...

(''Yoma sabina''), which are recorded on several species. Ruellia elegans in Kadavoor

Ruellia prostrata syn Dipteracanthus prostrata (bell weed or black weed) in Talakona forest, AP W IMG 8317

Selected species

* '' Ruellia acutangula'' * '' Ruellia affinis'' (Schrad.) Lindau * '' Ruellia angustior'' * '' Ruellia asperula'' * '' Ruellia blumei'' Steud. * '' Ruellia bourgaei '' Hemsl. * ''

Ruellia brevicaulis ''Ruellia capitata'' ( syn. ''Strobilanthes capitatus'' T.Anders., ''Strobilanthes pentstemonoides'' T.Anders.) is a plant native to Cerrado vegetation of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. See also * List of plants of Cerrado vegetation of Brazi ...

'' * '' Ruellia brevifolia'' (Pohl) C.Ezcurra – tropical wild petunia, red Christmas pride * ''

Ruellia capitata ''Strobilanthes penstemonoides'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Acanthaceae. It occurs in China, Bhutan, India, and Nepal Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Ne ...

'' * '' Ruellia caroliniensis'' (J.F.Gmel.) Steud. * '' Ruellia cernua'' Roxb. * ''

Ruellia chartacea ''Ruellia'' is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as ruellias or wild petunias. They are not closely related to petunias (''Petunia'') although both genera belong to the same euasterid clade. The genus was named in honor of Jean Ruelle ...

'' (T.Anderson) Wassh. * '' Ruellia ciliatiflora'' Hook. * '' Ruellia ciliosa'' Pursh * '' Ruellia colorata'' (might belong in ''R. trivialis'') * '' Ruellia currorii'' * ''

Ruellia densa ''Ruellia densa'' is a plant native to the Cerrado region of Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 2 ...

'' * '' Ruellia devosiana'' Jacob-Makoy ex E.Morren * '' Ruellia dielsii'' * '' Ruellia diffusa'' * ''

Ruellia dioscoridis ''Ruellia dioscoridis'' is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae. It is endemic to Yemen. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland A grassland is an area where t ...

'' * ''

Ruellia dissitifolia ''Ruellia dissitifolia'' is a plant native to the Cerrado vegetation of Brazil. See also * List of plants of Cerrado vegetation of Brazil This is a list of plants found in the wild in cerrado vegetation of Brazil. Acanthaceae * '' Anisacant ...

'' * '' Ruellia drymophila'' Hand.-Mazz. * '' Ruellia elegans'' Poir. * ''

Ruellia eriocalyx ''Ruellia eriocalyx'' is a plant native to the Cerrado vegetation of Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and wit ...

'' * '' Ruellia eurycodon'' * '' Ruellia flava'' * '' Ruellia formosa'' * '' Ruellia fulgida'' Andrews * ''

Ruellia geminiflora ''Ruellia geminiflora'', known locally as ipecacuanha-da-flor-roxa, is a species native to Argentina; Brazil, typically Caatinga and Cerrado vegetation; Guianas, and Venezuela. The roots of this plant contains possibly toxic substances. '' Ruel ...

'' – ''ipecacuanha-da-flor-roxa'' (

Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

) * '' Ruellia glanduloso-punctata'' * '' Ruellia hapalotricha'' * ''

Ruellia helianthemum ''Ruellia helianthemum'' is a plant native to the Cerrado vegetation of Brazil. helianthemum ''Helianthemum'' , known as rock rose, sunrose, rushrose, or frostweed,Ruellia humilis'' Nutt. – fringeleaf wild petunia, plains petunia, fringeleaf ruellia, hairy ruellia, low ruellia, zigzag ruel * ''

Ruellia hypericoides ''Ruellia hypericoides'' ( syn. ''Dipteracanthus hypericoides'' Nees) is a plant native to the Cerrado vegetation of Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius Carl Friedrich Philipp (Karl Friedri ...

'' * '' Ruellia incomta'' * '' Ruellia insignis'' * '' Ruellia jaliscana '' Standl. * '' Ruellia kuriensis'' * '' Ruellia macrantha'' (Nees) Gower – Christmas pride * '' Ruellia macrophylla'' Vahl * '' Ruellia makoyana'' Hort.Makoy ex Closon * '' Ruellia mcvaughii'' T.F. Daniel * '' Ruellia menthoides'' * '' Ruellia neesiana'' * ''

Ruellia nitens ''Ruellia nitens'' ( syn. ''Dipteracanthus nitens'' Nees) is a plant native to the Cerrado vegetation of Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius Carl Friedrich Philipp (Karl Friedrich Philipp) v ...

'' * '' Ruellia noctiflora'' * ''

Ruellia novogaliciana ''Ruellia'' is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as ruellias or wild petunias. They are not closely related to petunias (''Petunia'') although both genera belong to the same euasterid clade. The genus was named in honor of Jean Ruelle ...

'' T.F. Daniel * '' Ruellia nudiflora'' (Engelm. & A.Gray) Urb. * '' Ruellia patula'' * ''

Ruellia paulayana ''Ruellia paulayana'' is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae. It is endemic to Yemen Yemen (; ar, ٱلْيَمَن, al-Yaman), officially the Republic of Yemen,, ) is a country in Western Asia. It is situated on the southern end ...

'' * '' Ruellia pedunculata'' * '' Ruellia pohlii'' * '' Ruellia portellae'' (might belong in ''R. trivialis'') * ''

Ruellia prostrata ''Ruellia'' is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as ruellias or wild petunias. They are not closely related to petunias (''Petunia'') although both genera belong to the same euasterid clade. The genus was named in honor of Jean Ruelle ...

'' Poir. * '' Ruellia puri'' * '' Ruellia rasa'' * '' Ruellia rosea'' (Nees) Hemsl. * '' Ruellia rufipila'' * '' Ruellia salicifolia'' * '' Ruellia simplex'' C.Wright * '' Ruellia sindica'' * '' Ruellia spissa'' Leonard * '' Ruellia squarrosa'' (Fenzl) Cufod. * '' Ruellia stemonacanthoides'' (Oerst.) Hemsl. * '' Ruellia stenandrium'' * '' Ruellia strepens'' L. (might belong in ''R. trivialis'') * '' Ruellia tomentosa'' * '' Ruellia trachyphylla'' * '' Ruellia trivialis'' * ''

Ruellia tuberosa ''Ruellia tuberosa'', also known as minnieroot, fever root, snapdragon root and sheep potato ( th, ต้อยติ่ง), is a species of flowering plant in the family Acanthaceae. Its native range is in Central America but presently it has ...

'' L. – minnie root, fever root, snapdragon root, sheep potato, popping pod, duppy gun, cracker plant (syn. ''R. picta'') * ''

Ruellia verbasciformis ''Ruellia verbasciformis'' ( syn. ''Eurychanes verbasciformis'' (Nees) Lindau) is a plant native to the Cerrado vegetation of Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius Carl Friedrich Philipp (Karl ...

'' * '' Ruellia villosa'' * ''

Ruellia vindex ''Ruellia vindex'' ( syn. ''Dipteracanthus vindex'', Nees, ''Ruellia geminiflora'' var. ''angustifolia'') is a plant native to Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius Carl ...

'' * '' Ruellia zeylanica''

Formerly placed here

Numerous plants, mainly in the family

Acanthaceae 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 tem ...

, are former members of ''Ruellia''. Some examples are: * ''Asystasia gangetica'' subsp. ''micrantha'' (Nees) Ensermu (as ''R. intrusa'' Forssk.) * ''Asystasia gangetica'' subsp. ''gangetica'' (as ''R. zeylanica'' J.Koenig ex Roxb.) *''

Blepharis ciliaris ''Blepharis'' is a genus of plant in family Acanthaceae. It contains around 126 species found in seasonally dry to arid habitats from Africa over Arabia to Southeast Asia. In section ''Acanthodium'', there are 13–15 species that use the carbo ...

'' (L.) B.L.Burtt (as ''R. ciliaris'' L. or ''R. persica'' Burm.f.) *''

Dyschoriste oblongifolia ''Dyschoriste oblongifolia'' is a species of the genus '' Dyschoriste'', in the family Acanthaceae. ''Dyschoriste oblongifolia'' is also called oblongleaf snakeherb or twinflower. Description ''Dyschoriste oblongifolia'' is a herbaceous, rhizom ...

'' (Michx.) Kuntze (as ''R. oblongifolia'' Michx.) *'' Hemigraphis repanda'' (L.) Hallier f. (as ''R. repanda'' L.) *''

Hygrophila costata ''Hygrophila costata'', with the common names glush weed, gulf swampweed, and yerba de hicotea, is an aquatic plant. The plant is endemic to, is native to Neotropic ecoregions. It is native to Florida, the Caribbean, southern Mexico, Central Ame ...

'' Nees et al. (as ''R. brasiliensis'' Spreng.) *''

Hygrophila difformis ''Hygrophila difformis'', commonly known as water wisteria (though it is not closely related to true wisteria), is an aquatic plant in the acanthus family. It is found in marshy habitats on the Indian subcontinent in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India an ...

'' (L.f.) Blume (as ''R. difformis'' L. f.) *'' Hygrophila lacustris'' (Schltdl. & Cham.) Nees (as ''R. lacustris'' Schltdl. & Cham.) *'' Hygrophila ringens'' (L.) R. Br. ex Steud. (as ''R. ringens'' L. or ''R. salicifolia'' Vahl) *'' Lepidagathis alopecuroidea'' (Vahl) R. Br. ex Griseb. (as ''R. alopecuroidea'' Vahl) *'' Lindernia antipoda'' (L.) Alston (as ''R. antipoda'' L.) *'' Stenandrium dulce'' (Cav.) Nees (as ''R. dulcis'' Cav.) *'' Strobilanthes anisophylla'' (Lodd. et al.) T. Anderson (as ''R. anisophylla'' Lodd. et al.) *'' Strobilanthes hamiltoniana'' (Steud.) Bosser & Heine (as ''R. hamiltoniana'' Steud.) *''

Teliostachya alopecuroidea ''Lepidagathis alopecuroidea'', synonym '' Teliostachya alopecuroidea'', the ''pata de gallina'', is a plant with a wide distribution in the Americas (from southern Mexico to northern Paraguay) and Africa (from west tropical Africa to east Tanzani ...

'' Nees (as ''R. alopecuroidea'', ''R. alopecuroides'')

References

External links

Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Copioglossa''PlantSystematics: ''Ruellia''Classification: ''Ruellia''
species list at USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Tree of Life: ''Ruellia''.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1280862 Acanthaceae genera