''Thunbergia'' 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 ...

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 ...

. It includes 150 species native to tropical and subtropical regions of sub-Saharan

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's List of islands by area, f ...

, southern

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

, New Guinea, and Australia. ''Thunbergia'' species are vigorous annual or perennial

vine A vine 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 themselves, for instance, when used in wicker work.Jackson; Benjamin; Da ...

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 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 Sweden, Swedish Natural history, naturalist and an Apostles of Linnaeus, "apostle" of Carl Linnaeus ...

(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 ''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 orn ...

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

Species include: *''

'' Bojer ex Sims *'' Thunbergia annua'' Hochst. ex Nees *'' Thunbergia atriplicifolia'' E.Mey. ex Nees *'' Thunbergia battiscombei'' Turrill *''

Thunbergia bicolor ''Thunbergia bicolor'', also known as the bicolor clockvine, is a species of flowering plant within the family Acanthaceae. Description Leaves The leaves of ''Thunbergia bicolor'' are paired at a node and borne opposite to each other. They ...

'' (Wight) Lindau *'' Thunbergia coccinea'' Wall. ex D.Don *'' Thunbergia erecta'' (Benth.) T. Anderson *''

Thunbergia fragrans ''Thunbergia fragrans'', the whitelady is a perennial climbing twiner in the family Acanthaceae, native to South and Southeast Asia and China. Distribution It is native to South and Southeast Asia and China. The species is also widely introduc ...

'' Roxb. *'' Thunbergia grandiflora'' Roxb. *'' Thunbergia gregorii'' S.Moore *'' Thunbergia laurifolia'' Lindl. *'' Thunbergia mildbraediana'' Lebrun & L.Touss. *'' Thunbergia mysorensis'' (Wight) T.Anderson *'' Thunbergia natalensis'' Hook.

Formerly placed here

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

Gallery

Image:Thunbergia alata - plant (aka).jpg, ''

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

'' Image:Thunbergia gregorii2.jpg, '' Thunbergia gregorii'' File:Thunbergia laurifolia (Blue Trumpet wine) W IMG 1973.jpg, '' Thunbergia laurifolia'' 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