Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 5, 2026

Acanthophyllum

Acanthophyllum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae with about 75 species, spread in the Irano-Turanian area.

Last revised
Aug 5, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
572 w
Citations
5
Source
Acanthophyllum
Acanthophyllum mucronatum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Acanthophyllum
C.A.Mey.
Species

See text

Synonyms1
  • Allochrusa Bunge ex Boiss.
  • Czeikia Ikonn.
  • Diaphanoptera Rech.f.
  • Kabulianthe (Rech.f.) Ikonn.
  • Kuhitangia Ovcz.
  • Ochotonophila Gilli
  • Scleranthopsis Rech.f.
  • Timaeosia Klotzsch

Acanthophyllum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae with about 75 species, spread in the Irano-Turanian area.2

Description

Small, shrubby perennial plants with spiny leaves. Flowers white or pink, sessile in solitary or globose heads. Spiny bracts. Calyx cylindrical, with 5 teeth. Petals 5, entire or retuse. Stamens 20. Capsule ovoid, irregularly dehiscent from base. Reniform seeds.3

Taxonomy

The genus was described by Carl Anton von Meyer and published in Verzeichness der Pflanzen des Caspischen Meeres 210, 1831.3 The type species is Acanthophyllum mucronatum C.A.Mey.

Acanthophyllum squarrosum in Iran source ↗

Species

As of March 2023, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:1

References

References

  1. "Acanthophyllum C.A.Mey.", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2023-03-17
  2. Mahmoudi Shamsabad, M.; Vaezi, J.; Memariani, F. & Joharchi, M.R. (2012), "A new species and a new record of Acanthophyllum C.A.Mey. (Caryophyllaceae) from northeast of Iran", Iran. J. Bot., 18 (1)
  3. "Acanthophyllum", Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden, retrieved 27 October 2013
Bibliography

Bibliography

  1. Bailey, L.H. & E.Z. Bailey. 1976. Hortus Third i–xiv, 1–1290. MacMillan, New York.
  2. Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali (eds). 1980–2005. Fl. Pakistan Univ. of Karachi, Karachi.