Strobilanthes cusia (Chinese rain bell)

Strobilanthes is a genus of about 350 species[2] of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, mostly native to tropical Asia and Madagascar, but with a few species extending north into temperate regions of Asia. Many species are cultivated for their two-lipped, hooded flowers in shades of blue, pink, white and purple. Most are frost-tender and require protection in frost-prone areas.[3] The genus is most famed for its many (but not all) species which bloom on long cycles of several years, such as Strobilanthes wightii which blooms every thirteen years.[4]

Species

S. auriculata var. dyeriana (cultivated)
Strobilanthes flexicaulis, endemic to Taiwan.
Strobilanthes cernua (bubukuan) in Papandayan Mountain, West Java, Indonesia.

Strobilanthes atropurpurea is a temperate species, native to eastern Siberia; it is cultivated for its purple flowers.

Strobilanthes dyeriana (Persian shield) is a tropical plant native to Myanmar. It is grown for its dark green foliage with bright, metallic-purple stripes radiating outward from the central leaf vein. In proper conditions, it will also produce pale purple flowers. Persian Shield grows best outdoors in USDA zones 9 and 10, although it can survive in other zones as a houseplant given sufficient temperature, soil moisture and humidity. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5]

Plants of the World Online currently includes:[1]

Herbivory

Strobilanthes species are food plants for the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Endoclita malabaracus, which has been recorded on S. callosa.

References

  1. ^ a b "Strobilanthes Blume". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  2. ^ Moylan, Elizabeth C.; Bennett, Jonathan R.; Carine, Mark A.; Olmstead, Richard G.; Scotland, Robert W. (2004). "Phylogenetic relationships among Strobilanthes s.l. (Acanthaceae): evidence from ITS nrDNA, trnL-F cpDNA, and morphology". American Journal of Botany. 91 (5). American Journal of Botany, Inc.: 724–735. doi:10.3732/ajb.91.5.724. PMID 21653427.
  3. ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  4. ^ "Rarity". Retrieved October 24, 2006.
  5. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Strobilanthes dyeriana". Retrieved 5 July 2013.

External links

  • Data related to Strobilanthes at Wikispecies
  • Media related to Strobilanthes at Wikimedia Commons