ACANTHACEAE

The Acanthaceae plants, which I fondly refer to as Acans, is a Family that I love because of their colourful bracts which are often more showy than their flowers. Two of the representatives here are Justicia brandegeeana and Ruellia colorata.

The characteristics of plants from this Family are:

• opposite leaves
• inflorescence with zygomorphic (bilateral symmetry) flowers and showy bracts
• 4 stamens
• seed pod with hooks
• estipulate