''Aphelandra'' 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 n ...

of about 170 species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. They include all forbs (flowering plants without a woody stem), grasses and grass-like plants, a vast majority of ...

s 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 ...

, native to tropical regions of the Americas. They are

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, which ...

shrubs growing to tall, with opposite, simple leaves long, often with white veins. The

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism ...

s are produced in dense spikes, with brightly coloured bracts. Several species are grown as

houseplant A houseplant, sometimes known as a pot plant, potted plant, or an indoor plant, is an ornamental plant that is grown indoors. As such, they are found in places like residences and offices, mainly for decorative purposes. Common houseplants are us ...

s for their patterned leaves and brightly coloured inflorescences.

Pharmacological activity

Pharmacological reports on genus Aphelandra are

Antibacterial activity The shelf life of a product can be extended either by adding artificial preservatives or by taking hygienic measures during the manufacturing process. As the consumer trend today is towards preservative-free foods with a long shelf-life, industry ...

Antifungal activity An antifungal medication, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis (thrush), serious systemic infections such as cryp ...

and Immunomodulatory activity.

Phytochemistry

Phytochemical reports on genus Aphelandra are

Alkaloids Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar ...

Flavonoids Flavonoids (or bioflavonoids; from the Latin word ''flavus'', meaning yellow, their color in nature) are a class of polyphenolic secondary metabolites found in plants, and thus commonly consumed in the diets of humans. Chemically, flavonoids ...

Isoflavones Isoflavones are substituted derivatives of isoflavone, a type of naturally occurring isoflavonoids, many of which act as phytoestrogens in mammals. Isoflavones are produced almost exclusively by the members of the bean family, Fabaceae (Leguminosa ...

, Benzoxazinoids-cyclic hydroxamic acid and their corresponding glucosides.

Selected species

*'' Aphelandra albinotata'' *''

Aphelandra anderssonii ''Aphelandra anderssonii'' is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed h ...

'' *''

Aphelandra attenuata ''Aphelandra attenuata'' is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. References Flora of Ecuador attenuata ''A ...

'' *''

Aphelandra aurantiaca ''Aphelandra'' is a genus of about 170 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. They are evergreen shrubs growing to tall, with opposite, simple leaves long, often with white veins. The ...

'' (Scheidw.) Lindl. **Synonyms - ''

Aphelandra fascinator ''Aphelandra'' is a genus of about 170 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. They are evergreen shrubs growing to tall, with opposite, simple leaves long, often with white veins. The ...

'', ''

Aphelandra nitens ''Aphelandra'' is a genus of about 170 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. They are evergreen shrubs growing to tall, with opposite, simple leaves long, often with white veins. The ...

'' Aphelandra aurantiaca
/ref> *''

Aphelandra azuayensis ''Aphelandra azuayensis'' is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed ha ...

'' *''

Aphelandra bahiensis ''Aphelandra'' is a genus of about 170 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. They are evergreen shrubs growing to tall, with opposite, simple leaves long, often with white veins. The ...

'' (Nees) Wassh. *''

Aphelandra chamissoniana ''Aphelandra'' is a genus of about 170 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. They are evergreen shrubs growing to tall, with opposite, simple leaves long, often with white veins. The ...

'' Nees *''

Aphelandra chrysantha ''Aphelandra chrysantha'' is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed ha ...

'' *''

Aphelandra cinnabarina ''Aphelandra cinnabarina'' is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed ha ...

'' *''

Aphelandra claussenii ''Aphelandra'' is a genus of about 170 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. They are evergreen shrubs growing to tall, with opposite, simple leaves long, often with white veins. The ...

'' Wassh. *''

Aphelandra colorata ''Aphelandra'' is a genus of about 170 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. They are evergreen shrubs growing to tall, with opposite, simple leaves long, often with white veins. The ...

'' (Vell. Conc.) Wassh. *'' Aphelandra deppeana'' *'' Aphelandra dodsonii'' *'' Aphelandra galba'' *'' Aphelandra guayasii'' *'' Aphelandra gunnari'' *'' Aphelandra harleyi'' Wassh. *''

Aphelandra harlingii ''Aphelandra harlingii'' is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. References Flora of Ecuador ...

'' *'' Aphelandra ignea'' (Schrader) Nees ex Steudel *'' Aphelandra lineariloba'' Leonard *'' Aphelandra madrensis'' Lindau *'' Aphelandra marginata'' Nees & Martius *'' Aphelandra maximiliana'' (Nees) Benth *'' Aphelandra mirabilis'' Rizzini *'' Aphelandra neesiana'' Wassh. *'' Aphelandra nemoralis'' Nees *'' Aphelandra loxensis'' *'' Aphelandra nuda'' Nees *'' Aphelandra obtusa'' (Nees) Wassh. *'' Aphelandra obtusifolia'' (Nees) Wassh. *'' Aphelandra paulensis'' Wassh. *'' Aphelandra phaina'' *'' Aphelandra phrynioides'' Lindau *'' Aphelandra rigida'' *'' Aphelandra ruellia'' *'' Aphelandra sinclairiana'' Nees - Coral aphelandra *'' Aphelandra squarrosa'' - Zebra plant *'' Aphelandra stephanophysa'' *'' Aphelandra sulphurea'' *'' Aphelandra tetragona'' (Vahl) Nees *'' Aphelandra tridentata'' *''

Aphelandra zamorensis ''Aphelandra zamorensis'' is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. References Flora of Ecuador ...

References

Acanthaceae genera Flora of Pakistan {{Acanthaceae-stub