Jepson Herbarium
		University of California, Berkeley

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Indexes to all accepted names and synonyms: | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

[Annual, perennial herbs to] shrub, [ tree], nodes generally swollen.
Leaf: simple, generally opposite, entire (toothed [lobed]); stipules 0.
Inflorescence: variable, with bracts, generally also bractlets.
Flower: bisexual; calyx deeply (3)4–5 lobed [(sepals free)]; corolla 4–5 lobed, radial to 2-lipped; stamens 2 or 4, epipetalous, anther sacs sometimes dissimilar in size or placement; ovary superior, 4–many-ovuled, chambers 1–2, placentas axile ( free central), stigmas 1–2.
Fruit: capsule, loculicidal, generally dehiscing explosively, valves 2.
Seed: 1–4[+], each generally subtended by hook-like outgrowth that remains in fruit.
220 genera, 4000 species: especially tropics; some ornamental: Justicia (Beloperone, shrimp-plant), Acanthus, Thunbergia. [Daniel 1998 Proc Calif Acad Sci 50:217–256; Hilu et al. 2003 Amer J Bot 90:1758–1766; Schwarzbach & McDade 2002 Syst Bot 27:84–98] —Scientific Editor: Thomas J. Rosatti.
Unabridged references: [Daniel 1984 Desert Plant 5:162–179; Daniel 1998 Proc Calif Acad Sci 50:217–256]

Key to Acanthaceae

[Annual, perennial herb] shrub.
Inflorescence: generally raceme [variable].
Flower: corolla 2-lipped, tube generally >= lips, wider upward, upper lip notched or 2-lobed, lower 3-lobed; stamens 2, generally appressed to upper lip, anther sacs unequally placed on filament, opening toward lower lip, lower sac spurred.
Fruit: club-shaped; stalk ± flat.
Seed: 4, outlined on fruit surface [or not].
400 species: tropics, subtrop. (James Justice, Scottish horticulturist, 1698–1763) [Graham 1988 Kew Bull 43:551–624]

Stem: < 2 m, generally leafless in flower, canescent.
Leaf: blade 1–6 cm, ovate, triangular, or ± round, puberulent; petiole < 20 mm.
Inflorescence: bracts < 1 cm, lance- elliptic, falling early; bractlets 2–5 mm, narrow- tapered.
Flower: calyx 5–8 mm, lobes 5, lanceolate; corolla 2–4 cm, puberulent, dull scarlet (yellow), lips 1–2 cm, < tube, lobes of lower 1–4 mm.
Fruit: 1.5–2 cm, canescent.
Seed: 2.5–3.5 mm, ± round, mottled.
2n=28. Dry sandy or rocky soils, especially washes; < 950 m. w Peninsular Ranges (San Diego River e of Wildcat Canyon), Sonoran Desert;

Previous taxon: Justicia
Next taxon: Adoxaceae

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Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) [year] Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html [accessed on month, day, year]
Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on [month, day, year].

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Bioregions in which taxon occurs	Red area (if present) is the part of the bioregion lying between the upper and lower elevation limits of the taxon; markers link to CCH specimen records. If the markers are obscured, reload the page [or change window size and reload]. Yellow markers indicate records that may have georeferencing or identification issues.
Chart based on elevation range in Manual and elevations and coordinates of CCH records. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. Note: About half of the CCH records include both elevation and coordinates.	Map made in collaboration with Scott Loarie. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. View all CCH records   CCH collections by month Duplicates counted once; synonyms included. Species do not include records of infraspecific taxa. Blue line denotes Manual flowering time.