Aphelandra is a genus of over 200 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas.

Aphelandra
Aphelandra squarrosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Subfamily: Acanthoideae
Tribe: Acantheae
Genus: Aphelandra
R.Br. (1810)
Species[1]

206, see text

Synonyms[1]
  • Amathea Raf. (1838)
  • Aphelandrella Mildbr. (1926)
  • Aphelandros St.-Lag. (1880), orth. var.
  • Encephalosphaera Lindau (1904)
  • Geissomeria Lindl. (1827)
  • Hemisandra Scheidw. (1842)
  • Hemitome Nees (1847), not validly publ.
  • Hydromestus Scheidw. (1842)
  • Lagochilium Nees (1847)
  • Odontophyllum Sreem. (1977), nom. illeg.
  • Orophochilus Lindau (1897)
  • Poecilocnemis Mart. ex Nees (1847)
  • Rhombochlamys Lindau (1897)
  • Sreemadhavana Rauschert (1982)
  • Strobilorhachis Klotzsch (1839)
  • Synandra Schrad. (1821), nom. illeg.

They are evergreen shrubs growing to 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) tall, with opposite, simple leaves 5–30 cm (2–12 in) long, often with white veins. The flowers are produced in dense spikes, with brightly coloured bracts.

Several species are grown as houseplants for their patterned leaves and brightly coloured inflorescences.

Pharmacological activity

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Pharmacological reports on genus Aphelandra are Antibacterial activity, Antifungal activity and Immunomodulatory activity.[2]

Phytochemistry

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Phytochemical reports on genus Aphelandra are Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Isoflavones, Benzoxazinoids-cyclic hydroxamic acid and their corresponding glucosides.[2]

Selected species

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206 species are accepted. They include:[1]

 
Aphelandra sinclairiana

References

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  1. ^ a b c Aphelandra R.Br. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b Awan, A.J., Aslam, M.S (2014). "FAMILY ACANTHACEAE AND GENUS APHELANDRA: ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL REVIEW". International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 6 (10): 44–55.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Aphelandra aurantiaca". Archived from the original on 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2008-11-08.