Accession Data:
Acanthus montanus (Nees) T. Anderson
- Common Name: Bear's Breech
- Family: Acanthaceae Juss.
- Synonym(s): Cheilopsis montana Nees
- Country of Origin: western tropical Africa
- Habitat: Shady and wet places. It can be found at stream borders.
- Description: A sprawling forest understory plant that is native to tropical western Africa. Deeply lobed, ovate to lanceolate, spiny, dark green leaves (to 12" long) with acuminate tips and silvering are both showy and ornamental. Two-lipped, snapdragon-like, pink to rose flowers bloom in summer on upright flower spikes (to 10" long) which rise from the branch ends. Plants grow to 4-6' tall when in flower.3
- Uses: This plant is used for ornamental and medicinal purposes. Leaves are used to maturate abscesses. Used as cough-medicine for women and children (infusion or leaf vegetable), chest-complaints, laxative in effect">purgative (decoction of leafy twigs), given to children as an emetic (leaf macerate). It has been used against rheumatism and some diuretic action is also mentioned. The plant is also used to protect against the devils, in purification and exorcism (Burkill 1985).2
- IMPORTANT NOTE: Plant Uses are for informational purposes only. EEB Greenhouses assume no responsibility for adverse effects from the use of any plants referred to on this site. Always seek advice from a professional before using any plant medicinally.
- USDA Zone: 7-10
Accession Data:
- Accession # 198700241
- Source:
- Accession Date: 12-31-1987
- Bench: 1106 - AFR:West Bench NN
- Currently: active - healthy
- Qty: 2 confirmed on 03-20-2025
- Restrictions:
Classification:
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- SubClass: euasterid I
- Order: Lamiales
- SubOrder:
- Family: Acanthaceae
- SubFamily: Acanthoideae
- Tribe: Acantheae
- SubTribe:
Flowering Data:
This accession has been observed in bloom on:| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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References (internal):
- EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: Benin / Ghana / Niger / Togo / Central African Republic / Cameroon / Congo / Equatorial Guinea / Gabon / Angola
References (external):
- The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Accessed 19 August 2015.
- Ghogue, J.-P. 2010. Acanthus montanus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2.
. Downloaded on 19 August 2015. - Acanthus montanus at Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed 19 August 2015.
data regenerated on Sat, 24 May 2025 11:09:21 -0400 [bcm v4.0]
Images:
Additional images for this accession:
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Current Accessions in the Acanthaceae
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Subfamily Acanthoideae
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Subfamily Acanthoideae
Tribe Whitfieldieae
Subfamily Thunbergioideae
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days