Acanthus montanus, also known as bear's breech or mountain thistle and in Igbo; ogwu_ahga (in Agbani, Enugu State Nigeria) is a species of flowering plant in the genus Acanthus. It is native to tropical Africa, growing in wet and shady places like stream borders[1] in Sierra Leone in West Africa and from Benin to Chad, Zambia, and Angola in central Africa.[2]

Acanthus montanus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Acanthus
Species:
A. montanus
Binomial name
Acanthus montanus
(Nees) T.Anderson (1863)
Synonyms[2]
  • Acanthus barteri T.Anderson (1863)
  • Cheilopsis montana Nees (1847)

It is a thinly branched perennial with basal clusters of oblong to lance-shaped glossy, dark green leaves reaching up to 12 inches (30 cm) long. The leaves have silver marks, wavy margins and thorns. It reaches up to 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and about 24 inches (61 cm) wide. Spikes of pale pink flowers appear summer to fall.[3]

In cultivation it prefers shady situations and occasional deep watering, but tolerates sunny, dry situations too. Its aggressive roots make this plant well suited to slopes.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Ghogue, J.-P. 2010. Acanthus montanus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T185329A8390038. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T185329A8390038.en. Accessed 27 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b Acanthus montanus (Nees) T.Anderson. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Acanthus montanus". Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
edit