Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 5, 2026

Sanchezia

Sanchezia is a genus of the plant family Acanthaceae. It contains 45 species. Members of this genus are shrubs, rarely small trees or herbs, occurring in the lowlands of tropical South and Central America. A close relative is Suessenguthia, which looks quite similar.

Last revised
Jul 5, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
449 w
Citations
6
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Sanchezia
Sanchezia speciosa inflorescence
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Subfamily: Acanthoideae
Tribe: Ruellieae
Genus: Sanchezia
Ruiz & Pav.
Species1

45, see text

Synonyms1
  • Ancylogyne Nees (1847)
  • Steirosanchezia Lindau (1904)
Closeup of two Sanchezia nobilis flowers source ↗
Pollen of Sanchezia sp source ↗
Red young branch of Sanchezia speciosa source ↗

Sanchezia is a genus of the plant family Acanthaceae. It contains 45 species.1 Members of this genus are shrubs, rarely small trees or herbs, occurring in the lowlands of tropical South and Central America. A close relative is Suessenguthia, which looks quite similar.2

Because they have large, colorful bracts and flowers, and sometimes even colorful leaves, several species are cultivated as ornamental plants throughout the tropics and in botanical gardens of temperate areas. Examples for species well known from cultivation are S. nobilis, S. parvibracteata and S. speciosa. In some areas, ornamental species have become problematic as invasive weeds. On the other hand, S. lampra from Ecuador is almost extinct.

Sanchezia is named for José Sánchez, a nineteenth-century professor of botany at Cádiz, Spain.3

Species

45 species are accepted.1

  • Sanchezia aurantiaca Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia aurea Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia coccinea Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia coleifolia Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia conferta Leonard
  • Sanchezia dasia Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia dubia I.H.F.Azevedo & P.L.R.Moraes
  • Sanchezia ecuadorensis Leonard
  • Sanchezia ferreyrae Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia filamentosa Lindau
  • Sanchezia fosteri Wassh.
  • Sanchezia killipii Leonard
  • Sanchezia klugii Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia lampra Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia lasia Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia lispa Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia longiflora (Hook.f.) Hook.f. ex Planch.
  • Sanchezia loranthifolia Lindau
  • Sanchezia macrocnemis (Nees) Wassh.
  • Sanchezia munita (Nees) Planch.
  • Sanchezia oblonga Ruiz & Pav.
  • Sanchezia ovata Ruiz & Pav.
  • Sanchezia parvibracteata Sprague & Hutch.
  • Sanchezia parviflora Leonard
  • Sanchezia pedicellata Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia pulchra Leonard
  • Sanchezia punicea Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia putumayensis Leonard
  • Sanchezia rhodochroa Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia rosea Leonard
  • Sanchezia rubriflora Leonard
  • Sanchezia sanmartinensis Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia scandens (Lindau) Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia sericea Leonard
  • Sanchezia siraensis Wassh.
  • Sanchezia sprucei Lindau
  • Sanchezia sylvestris Leonard
  • Sanchezia tarapotensis Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia thinophila Leonard
  • Sanchezia tigrina Leonard
  • Sanchezia villosa Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia williamsii Leonard
  • Sanchezia woytkowskii Leonard & L.B.Sm.
  • Sanchezia wurdackii Wassh.
  • Sanchezia xantha Leonard & L.B.Sm.
References

References

  1. Sanchezia Ruiz & Pav. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  2. Leonard & Smith (1964)
  3. Clay et al. (1987): p.242
Bibliography

Bibliography

  • Clay, Horace F.; Hubbard, James C. & Golt, Rick (1987): Tropical Shrubs. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0-8248-1128-3
  • Leonard, E.C. & Smith, L.B. (1964): Sanchezia and related American Acanthaceae. Rhodora 66: 313-343.
External links