Strobilanthes is a genus of about 350 species 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. 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.
Species
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.
Plants of the World Online currently includes:
Strobilanthes abbreviata Y.F.Deng & J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes accrescens J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes adenophora Nees Strobilanthes adnata C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes adpressa J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes afriastiniae J.R.Benn. Strobilanthes alata Blume Strobilanthes albostriata Ridl. Strobilanthes alboviridis J.B.Imlay Strobilanthes alternata (Burm.f.) Moylan ex J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes amabilis C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes anamallaica J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes anamitica Kuntze Strobilanthes anceps Nees Strobilanthes andamanensis Bor Strobilanthes andersonii Bedd. Strobilanthes angustifrons C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes anisophylla (Wall. ex Hook.) T.Anderson Strobilanthes antonii Elmer Strobilanthes apoensis (Elmer) Merr. Strobilanthes aprica (Hance) T.Anderson ex Benth. Strobilanthes arborea Span. Strobilanthes arenicola W.W.Sm. Strobilanthes argentea J.B.Imlay Strobilanthes arnottiana Nees Strobilanthes articulata J.B.Imlay Strobilanthes assimulata S.Moore Strobilanthes asymmetrica J.R.I.Wood & J.R.Benn. Strobilanthes atropurpurea Nees Strobilanthes atroviridis Y.F.Deng & J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes attenuata (Wall. ex Nees) Jacq. ex Nees Strobilanthes auriculata Nees S. auriculata var. dyeriana (Mast.) J.R.I.Wood = Strobilanthes dyeriana Strobilanthes aurita J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes austrosinensis Y.F.Deng & J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes autapomorpha J.R.Benn. Strobilanthes axilliflora C.B.Clarke ex S.Moore Strobilanthes backeri (Bremek.) J.R.Benn. Strobilanthes bakeri (Merr.) Y.F.Deng Strobilanthes bantonensis Lindau Strobilanthes baracatanensis (Elmer) Y.F.Deng Strobilanthes barbata Nees Strobilanthes barbigera J.R.I.Wood, Nuraliev & Scotland Strobilanthes barisanensis (Bremek.) J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes bheriensis (Shakya) J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes bibracteata Blume Strobilanthes bilabiata J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes biocullata Y.F.Deng & J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes bipartita Terao ex J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes birmanica (Bremek.) W.J.Kress & DeFilipps Strobilanthes bislei Sinj.Thomas, B.Mani, Britto & Pradeep Strobilanthes blumeana (Nees) Y.F.Deng Strobilanthes bogoriensis Lindau Strobilanthes bolumpattiana Bedd. Strobilanthes bombycina J.B.Imlay Strobilanthes borii J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes bracteata (Nees) J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes brandisii T.Anderson Strobilanthes bremekampiana J.R.I.Wood & J.R.Benn. Strobilanthes brunelloides (Lam.) J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes brunnescens Benoist Strobilanthes brunoniana Nees Strobilanthes bulusanensis Elmer Strobilanthes bunnemeyeri J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes calcicola J.R.I.Wood & J.R.Benn. Strobilanthes callosa Nees Strobilanthes calvata J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes calycina Nees Strobilanthes campaniformis J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes campanulata Wight Strobilanthes canarica Bedd. Strobilanthes candida J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes capillipes C.B.Clarke ex Ridl. Strobilanthes capitata (Nees) T.Anderson Strobilanthes carinei J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes carnatica Carine, J.M.Alexander & Scotland Strobilanthes caudata T.Anderson Strobilanthes celebica (Bremek.) J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes cernua Blume Strobilanthes chiangdaoensis Terao Strobilanthes chinensis (Nees) J.R.I.Wood & Y.F.Deng Strobilanthes chrysodelta J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes ciliata Nees Strobilanthes cincinnalis C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes clarkei J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes coertii Terao ex J.R.Benn. Strobilanthes cognata Benoist Strobilanthes collina Nees Strobilanthes compacta D.Fang & H.S.Lo Strobilanthes congesta Terao Strobilanthes connata Collett & Hemsl. Strobilanthes consanguinea (Nees) T.Anderson Strobilanthes cordifolia (Vahl) J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes corrugata J.B.Imlay Strobilanthes crassifolia Miq. Strobilanthes crataegifolia T.Anderson Strobilanthes crispa (L.) Blume Strobilanthes crossandra (Steud.) J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes cruciata (Bremek.) Terao Strobilanthes cumingiana (Nees) Y.F.Deng & J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes cuneata (Shakya) J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes cusia (Nees) Kuntze Strobilanthes cuspidata (Benth.) T.Anderson Strobilanthes cycla C.B.Clarke ex W.W.Sm. Strobilanthes cyphantha Diels Strobilanthes cystolithigera Lindau Strobilanthes dalzielii (W.W.Sm.) Benoist Strobilanthes decipiens J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes decumbens (Bremek.) J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes decurrens Nees Strobilanthes deflexa T.Anderson Strobilanthes densa Benoist Strobilanthes denticulata (Nees) T.Anderson Strobilanthes diandra (Nees) Alston Strobilanthes dimorphotricha Hance Strobilanthes discolor T.Anderson Strobilanthes disparifolia J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes divaricata (Nees) T.Anderson Strobilanthes dolichophylla Benoist Strobilanthes dryadum Benoist Strobilanthes dupenii Bedd. ex C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes echinata Nees Strobilanthes elmeri Y.F.Deng Strobilanthes elongata C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes erecta C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes esquirolii H.Lév. Strobilanthes euantha J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes exserta C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes extensa (Nees) Nees Strobilanthes falconeri T.Anderson Strobilanthes farinosa C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes fengiana Y.F.Deng & J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes ferruginea D.Fang & H.S.Lo Strobilanthes filiformis Blume Strobilanthes fimbriata Nees Strobilanthes flava Kurz Strobilanthes flexa Benoist Strobilanthes flexicaulis Hayata Strobilanthes fluviatilis (C.B.Clarke ex W.W.Sm.) Moylan & Y.F.Deng Strobilanthes foliosa (Wight) T.Anderson Strobilanthes formosana S.Moore Strobilanthes forrestii Diels Strobilanthes fragrans J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes frondosa J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes fruticosa (Chatterjee) W.J.Kress & DeFilipps Strobilanthes fruticulosa (C.B.Clarke) Y.F.Deng Strobilanthes fusca J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes galeopsis Stapf Strobilanthes gamblei Carine, J.M.Alexander & Scotland Strobilanthes gardneriana (Nees) T.Anderson Strobilanthes gigantodes Lindau Strobilanthes glabrata Nees Strobilanthes glandibracteata D.Fang & H.S.Lo Strobilanthes glandulosa Blume Strobilanthes glaucescens Nees Strobilanthes glomerata (Nees) T.Anderson Strobilanthes glutinosa Nees Strobilanthes gossypina T.Anderson Strobilanthes gracilis Bedd. Strobilanthes graminea J.B.Imlay Strobilanthes gregalis Collett & Hemsl. Strobilanthes guangxiensis S.Z.Huang Strobilanthes habracanthoides J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes halconensis Merr. Strobilanthes hallbergii Blatt. Strobilanthes hamiltoniana (Steud.) Bosser & Heine Strobilanthes helferi T.Anderson Strobilanthes helicoides T.Anderson Strobilanthes helicta T.Anderson Strobilanthes heliophila J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes henryi Hemsl. Strobilanthes heterochroa Hand.-Mazz. Strobilanthes heteroclita D.Fang & H.S.Lo Strobilanthes heteromalla T.Anderson ex C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes heyneana Nees Strobilanthes himalayana J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes hirsuta Decne. Strobilanthes hirta (Vahl) Blume Strobilanthes hirticalyx Ridl. Strobilanthes hirtisepala C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes homotropa Nees Strobilanthes hongii Y.F.Deng & F.L.Chen Strobilanthes hookeri Nees Strobilanthes hossei C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes humilis (Nees) Gamble Strobilanthes hupehensis W.W.Sm. Strobilanthes hypericoides J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes hypomalla Benoist Strobilanthes imbricata Nees Strobilanthes imlayae J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes incisa J.B.Imlay Strobilanthes inflata T.Anderson Strobilanthes integrifolia (Dalzell) Kuntze also Strobilanthes integrifolius Strobilanthes involucrata Blume Strobilanthes ixiocephala Benth. Strobilanthes japonica (Thunb.) Miq. Strobilanthes jennyae J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes jeyporensis Bedd. Strobilanthes jogensis Gilli Strobilanthes jomyi P.Biju, Josekutty, Rekha & J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes kachinensis J.R.I.Wood & J.R.Benn. Strobilanthes kannanii Josekutty, P.Biju, J.R.I.Wood & Augustine Strobilanthes karensium Kurz Strobilanthes khasyana T.Anderson Strobilanthes khoshooana (S.R.Paul) Karthik. & Moorthy Strobilanthes kingdonii J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes kjellbergii J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes klossii (S.Moore) Y.F.Deng Strobilanthes koordersii C.B.Clarke ex Koord. Strobilanthes korthalsii (Bremek.) J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes kunthiana T.Anderson ex Benth. Strobilanthes labordei H.Lév. Strobilanthes lachenensis C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes lamiifolia (Nees) T.Anderson Strobilanthes lamioides T.Anderson Strobilanthes lamium C.B.Clarke ex W.W.Sm. Strobilanthes lanata Nees Strobilanthes lanceifolia T.Anderson Strobilanthes lanyuensis Seok, C.F.Hsieh & J.Murata Strobilanthes larium Hand.-Mazz. Strobilanthes latebrosa Ridl. Strobilanthes latibracteata J.B.Imlay Strobilanthes lawsonii Gamble Strobilanthes laxa T.Anderson Strobilanthes leucopogon Ridl. Strobilanthes lihengiae Y.F.Deng & J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes linearifolia (Bremek.) Y.F.Deng Strobilanthes longespicata Hayata Strobilanthes longgangensis D.Fang & H.S.Lo Strobilanthes longiflora Benoist Strobilanthes longipedunculata Terao ex J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes longipetiolata (Merr.) Y.F.Deng Strobilanthes longispica (H.P.Tsui) J.R.I.Wood & Y.F.Deng Strobilanthes longistaminea J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes longzhouensis H.S.Lo & D.Fang Strobilanthes lupulina Nees Strobilanthes lurida Wight Strobilanthes maclellandii C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes maclurei Merr. Strobilanthes maculata (Wall.) Nees Strobilanthes maingayi C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes malabarica Josekutty, P.Biju & Augustine Strobilanthes mastersii T.Anderson Strobilanthes matthewiana Scotland Strobilanthes maxwellii J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes mearnsii Merr. Strobilanthes medogensis (H.W.Li) J.R.I.Wood & Y.F.Deng Strobilanthes meeboldii Craib Strobilanthes mekongensis W.W.Sm. Strobilanthes membranacea Talbot Strobilanthes merrillii C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes micrantha Wight Strobilanthes microcarpa T.Anderson Strobilanthes microstachya Benth. Strobilanthes mogokensis Lace Strobilanthes monadelpha Nees Strobilanthes moschifera Blume Strobilanthes mucronatoproducta Lindau Strobilanthes mullayanagiriensis Sinj.Thomas, B.Mani, Britto & Pradeep Strobilanthes multangula Benoist Strobilanthes multidens C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes multiflora Ridl. Strobilanthes muratae J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes murutorum J.R.I.Wood Strobilanthes myura Benoist Strobilanthes nagaensis (Bremek.) W.J.Kress & DeFilipps Strobilanthes namkadingensis Soulad. & Tagane Strobilanthes naumannii Engl. Strobilanthes neilgherrensis Bedd. Strobilanthes nemorosa Benoist Strobilanthes neoaspera Venu & P.Daniel Strobilanthes newii Bedd. ex C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes nigrescens T.Anderson Strobilanthes ningmingensis D.Fang & H.S.Lo Strobilanthes nobilis C.B.Clarke Strobilanthes nockii Trimen Strobilanthes novomegapolitana Lindau Strobilanthes nutans (Nees) T.Anderson Strobilanthes obesa Benoist