Thunbergia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae. It includes 150 species native to tropical and subtropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, southern Asia, New Guinea, and Australia. Thunbergia species are vigorous annual or perennial vines and shrubs growing to 2–8 m tall. The generic name honours the Swedish naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg (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 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:
Thunbergia alata Bojer ex Sims Thunbergia annua Hochst. ex Nees Thunbergia atriplicifolia E.Mey. ex Nees Thunbergia battiscombei Turrill Thunbergia bicolor (Wight) Lindau Thunbergia coccinea Wall. ex D.Don Thunbergia erecta (Benth.) T. Anderson Thunbergia fragrans 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
References
External links
A Tale of Two Susans II - non-scholarly essay on the etymology and history of Thunbergia (and Carl Peter Thunberg)