Acanthus ebracteatus

Acanthus ebracteatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Acanthaceae
Genus:	Acanthus
Species:	A. ebracteatus
Binomial name
	Acanthus ebracteatus; Vahl
Subspecies
	;

Acanthus ebracteatus is a species of shrubby herb that grows in the undergrowth of mangroves of south-east Asia. Common names include sea holly and holly mangrove.

Description[]

It grows as an erect, spreading or scrambling shrubby herb, up to 1.5 metres tall, usually with a great many stems. Its leaves are dark green, stiff, with sharp spines at the end of each deep lobe: very much like those of holly (Ilex). Flowers are blue, purple or white, and occur in spikes terminal on the branches. The fruit is a square-shaped capsule, which explodes when ripe, projecting the seeds up to two metres from the plant. Seeds are off-white and flat.

Taxonomy[]

This species was first described by Martin Vahl in his 1791 Symbolae Botanicae. In 1806 Christiaan Persoon transferred it into , but this was not accepted.

Two subspecies are recognised, the autonym , and , described in 1986.

Distribution and habitat[]

It occurs in the undergrowth of mangroves in south-east Asia, including northern Australia.

Medicinal uses[]

The leaves of Acanthus ebracteatus, noted for their antioxidant properties, are used for making Thai herbal tea in Thailand and Indonesia.^[1]

References[]

^ Chan, E.W.C.; Eng, S.Y.; Tan, Y.P.; Wong, Z.C.; Lye, P.Y.; Tan, L.N. (2012). "Antioxidant and Sensory Properties of Thai Herbal Teas with Emphasis on Thunbergia laurifolia Lindl". Chiang Mai J. Sci. 39 (4): 599–609.

"Acanthus ebracteatus Vahl". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
"Acanthus ebracteatus Vahl". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/text/1045.htm

External links[]

"Acanthus ebracteatus Vahl". Atlas of Living Australia.

[1] Chan, E.W.C.; Eng, S.Y.; Tan, Y.P.; Wong, Z.C.; Lye, P.Y.; Tan, L.N. (2012). "Antioxidant and Sensory Properties of Thai Herbal Teas with Emphasis on Thunbergia laurifolia Lindl". Chiang Mai J. Sci. 39 (4): 599–609.

[1]