''Thunbergia'' 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 ...
of
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 group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
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 ...
, 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 are ...
. ''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 themsel ...
s and
shrubs growing to 2–8 m tall. The generic name honours the Swedish naturalist
Carl Peter Thunberg (1743-1828).
Its members are known by various names, including thunbergias and clockvine. ''Thunbergia'' on its own usually refers to ''
Thunbergia grandiflora'', while ''
Thunbergia alata'' 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''.
''Thunbergias'' are frequent garden escapes, becoming invasive species; ''T. grandiflora'', ''T. fragrans'', and ''T. laurifolia'' are considered weeds in Australia.
Selected species
*''
Thunbergia alata''
Bojer ex Sims
*''
Thunbergia annua''
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''
Turrill
*''
Thunbergia coccinea''
Wall. ex D.Don
*''
Thunbergia cordata''
Colla
*''
Thunbergia elegans''
Borzí
*''
Thunbergia erecta''
(Benth.) T. Anderson
*''
Thunbergia fragrans''
Roxb.
*''
Thunbergia gibsonii''
S. Moore
*''
Thunbergia grandiflora''
Roxb.
*''
Thunbergia gregorii''
S.Moore
*''
Thunbergia ikbaliana''
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''
T. Anderson
*''
Thunbergia mysorensis''
(Wight) T.Anderson
*''
Thunbergia natalensis''
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, '' Thunbergia gregorii''
File:Thunbergia laurifolia (Blue Trumpet wine) W IMG 1973.jpg, ''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 ...
''
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