''Pachystachys'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of 12 species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Acanthaceae Acanthaceae () is a Family (biology), family (the acanthus family) of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing almost 250 genera and about 2500 species. Most are Tropics, tropical Herbaceous plant, herbs, shrubs, or twining vines; some are epip ...

native Native may refer to: People * '' Jus sanguinis'', nationality by blood * '' Jus soli'', nationality by location of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Nat ...

to rainforest in the Caribbean and Central and South America. They are

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has Leaf, foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Consisting of many diffe ...

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

s and

shrub A shrub or 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 by their multiple ...

s bearing prominent terminal spikes of flowers with brightly coloured

bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves in size, color, shape or texture. They also lo ...

s. The name ''Pachystachys'' comes from the Greek for "thick spike", referring to the flower heads. The genus is closely related to '' Justicia''. The species ''P. coccinea'', ''P. lutea'' and ''P. spicata'' are found in cultivation. They can be grown outside in

subtropical The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones immediately to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Ge ...

gardens in areas where the temperature does not fall below . Elsewhere, they can be grown under glass or as

houseplants A houseplant, also known as a pot plant, potted plant, or indoor plant, is an ornamental plant cultivated indoors. for aesthetic or practical purposes. These plants are commonly found in House, homes, Office, offices, and various indoor spaces, w ...

Species

18 species are accepted. *'' Pachystachys azaleiflora'' *'' Pachystachys badiospica'' *''

Pachystachys coccinea ''Pachystachys coccinea'', the Cardinals guard, is a perennial evergreen shrub native to French Guiana, Brazil, and Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador a ...

'' *'' Pachystachys cordata'' *'' Pachystachys dubiosa'' *''

Pachystachys fosteri ''Pachystachys'' is a genus of 12 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to rainforest in the Caribbean and Central and South America. They are evergreen perennials and shrubs bearing prominent terminal spikes of flowers wi ...

'' *''

Pachystachys gracilis ''Pachystachys'' is a genus of 12 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to rainforest in the Caribbean and Central and South America. They are evergreen perennials and shrubs bearing prominent terminal spikes of flowers wi ...

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Pachystachys incarnata ''Pachystachys'' is a genus of 12 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to rainforest in the Caribbean and Central and South America. They are evergreen perennials and shrubs bearing prominent terminal spikes of flowers wi ...

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Pachystachys killipii ''Pachystachys'' is a genus of 12 species of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Acanthaceae, native plant, native to rainforest in the Caribbean and Central and South America. They are evergreen perennial plant, perennials and shrub ...

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Pachystachys linearibracteata ''Pachystachys'' is a genus of 12 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to rainforest in the Caribbean and Central and South America. They are evergreen perennials and shrubs bearing prominent terminal spikes of flowers wi ...

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Pachystachys longibracteata ''Pachystachys'' is a genus of 12 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to rainforest in the Caribbean and Central and South America. They are evergreen perennials and shrubs bearing prominent terminal spikes of flowers wi ...

'' *''

Pachystachys lutea ''Pachystachys lutea'', known as the golden shrimp plant or lollipop plant, is a tropical, soft-stemmed evergreen shrub between 0.5 and 2.5 meters tall, native to Peru. The zygomorphic, long-throated, short-lived white flowers emerge sequentially ...

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Pachystachys ossolae ''Pachystachys'' is a genus of 12 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to rainforest in the Caribbean and Central and South America. They are evergreen perennials and shrubs bearing prominent terminal spikes of flowers wi ...

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Pachystachys puberula ''Pachystachys'' is a genus of 12 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to rainforest in the Caribbean and Central and South America. They are evergreen perennials and shrubs bearing prominent terminal spikes of flowers wi ...

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Pachystachys rosea ''Pachystachys'' is a genus of 12 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to rainforest in the Caribbean and Central and South America. They are evergreen perennials and shrubs bearing prominent terminal spikes of flowers wi ...

'' *''

Pachystachys schunkei ''Pachystachys'' is a genus of 12 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to rainforest in the Caribbean and Central and South America. They are evergreen perennials and shrubs bearing prominent terminal spikes of flowers wi ...

'' *'' Pachystachys spicata'' *'' Pachystachys velutina''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2603828 Acanthaceae Acanthaceae genera Flora of the Neotropical realm Taxa named by Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck