''Thunbergia'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

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 in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

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 te ...

, native to tropical regions of

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...

and southern

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...

. ''Thunbergia'' species are vigorous annual or perennial

vine A vine (Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themselv ...

s and

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

s growing to 2–8 m tall. The generic name honours the Swedish naturalist

Carl Peter Thunberg Carl Peter Thunberg, also known as Karl Peter von Thunberg, Carl Pehr Thunberg, or Carl Per Thunberg (11 November 1743 – 8 August 1828), was a Swedish naturalist and an "apostle" of Carl Linnaeus. After studying under Linnaeus at Uppsala Un ...

(1743-1828). Its members are known by various names, including thunbergias and clockvine. ''Thunbergia'' on its own usually refers to ''

Thunbergia grandiflora ''Thunbergia grandiflora'' is an evergreen vine in the family Acanthaceae. It is native to China, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indochina and Myanmar and widely naturalised elsewhere. Common names include Bengal clockvine, Bengal trumpet, blue skyflo ...

'', while ''

Thunbergia alata ''Thunbergia alata'', commonly called black-eyed Susan vine, is a herbaceous perennial climbing plant species in the family Acanthaceae. It is native to Eastern Africa, and has been naturalized in other parts of the world. It is grown as an or ...

'' is often known as black-eyed Susan vine or just black-eyed Susan (not to be confused with other flowers called

black-eyed Susan ''Black-Eyed Susan; or, All in the Downs'' is a comic play in three acts by Douglas Jerrold. The story concerns a heroic sailor, William, who has been away from England for three years fighting in the Napoleonic Wars. Meanwhile, his wife, Susa ...

). Orange clockvine is the name of ''

Thunbergia gregorii ''Thunbergia gregorii'', commonly known as orange clockvine or orange trumpet vine, is a herbaceous perennial climbing plant species in the family Acanthaceae, native to East Africa and sometimes cultivated as an ornamental vine. The bright, pur ...

''. ''Thunbergias'' are frequent garden escapes, becoming invasive species; ''T. grandiflora'', ''T. fragrans'', and ''T. laurifolia'' are considered weeds in Australia.

Selected species

*''

'' Bojer ex Sims *''

Thunbergia annua ''Thunbergia annua'', the annual thunbergia, is a herbaceous upright plant, in the genus ''Thunbergia ''Thunbergia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Madagascar and southern Asia. ...

'' Hochst. ex Nees *''

Thunbergia atriplicifolia ''Thunbergia atriplicifolia'', the Natal primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the family Acanthaceae, native to South Africa and Eswatini. It is a favored browse of the steenbok ('' Raphicerus campestris''). Etymology The genus name '' ...

'' E.Mey. ex Nees *''

Thunbergia battiscombei ''Thunbergia battiscombei'', also known as the blue glory vine, is a species of flowering plant within the family Acanthaceae. It is sometimes used as an ornamental garden plant for its beautiful large blooms and leafy foliage. ''Thunbergia battisc ...

'' Turrill *''

Thunbergia coccinea ''Thunbergia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Madagascar and southern Asia. ''Thunbergia'' species are vigorous annual or perennial vines and shrubs growing to 2–8 m tall. The g ...

'' Wall. ex D.Don *''

Thunbergia cordata ''Thunbergia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Madagascar and southern Asia. ''Thunbergia'' species are vigorous annual or perennial vines and shrubs growing to 2–8 m tall. The g ...

'' Colla *''

Thunbergia elegans ''Thunbergia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Madagascar and southern Asia. ''Thunbergia'' species are vigorous annual or perennial vines and shrubs growing to 2–8 m tall. The g ...

'' Borzí *'' Thunbergia erecta'' (Benth.) T. Anderson *'' Thunbergia fragrans'' Roxb. *''

Thunbergia gibsonii ''Thunbergia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Madagascar and southern Asia. ''Thunbergia'' species are vigorous annual or perennial vines and shrubs growing to 2–8 m tall. The g ...

'' S. Moore *''

'' Roxb. *''

'' S.Moore *''

Thunbergia ikbaliana ''Thunbergia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Madagascar and southern Asia. ''Thunbergia'' species are vigorous annual or perennial vines and shrubs growing to 2–8 m tall. The g ...

'' De Wild. *''

Thunbergia laurifolia ''Thunbergia laurifolia'', the laurel clockvine or blue trumpet vine, is native to India and Thailand and the Indomalayan realm, the species occurs from Indochina to Malaysia. Description ''Thunbergia laurifolia'' leaves are opposite, heart-shap ...

'' Lindl. *''

Thunbergia lutea ''Thunbergia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Madagascar and southern Asia. ''Thunbergia'' species are vigorous annual or perennial vines and shrubs growing to 2–8 m tall. The g ...

'' T. Anderson *'' Thunbergia mysorensis'' (Wight) T.Anderson *''

Thunbergia natalensis ''Thunbergia natalensis'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Acanthaceae, that is native to parts of mainland Africa, including South Africa (Limpopo, Mpulamanga, KwaZulu-Natal, East Cape Province), Eswatini, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi ...

'' Hook. *'' Thunbergia vogeliana'' Benth. *'' Thunbergia wightiana'' T.Anderson

Formerly placed here

*'' Meyenia hawtayneana'' (Wall.) Nees (as ''T. hawtayneana'' Wall.)

Gallery

Image:Thunbergia erecta at Kudayathoor.jpg, '' Thunbergia erecta'' Image:Thunbergia fragrans (Chimine) in Hyderabad, AP W IMG 8934.jpg, '' Thunbergia fragrans'' Image:Thunbergia gregorii2.jpg, ''

'' File:Thunbergia laurifolia (Blue Trumpet wine) W IMG 1973.jpg, ''

'' Image:Thunbergia mysorensis dsc03785.jpg, '' Thunbergia mysorensis''

References

External links

''A Tale of Two Susans II''
- non-scholarly essay on the etymology and history of Thunbergia ''(and Carl Peter Thunberg)'' {{Taxonbar, from=Q162036 Acanthaceae genera