Thunbergia is a Vigorous Genus

Thunbergia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to the eastern and southern Africa, often cultivated and naturalized in all areas of the Earth warmer.

It is a herbaceous climber, with flowers the color ranges from white to dark yellow. The throat of the flowers can be red or purple.

It was distributed by man in tropical and subtropical countries for its decorative value. In Kenya is used as fodder for livestock and the leaves are eaten as a vegetable by man. In India and Malaysia the leaves are applied to the temples to cure a headache.

In Tanganyika a few drops of sap are applied in case of inflammation of the eyes (conjunctivitis probably). The sap of other species is drunk as a remedy for constipation and in cases of colon cancer. The fruits resemble small pumpkins and are then used by Kenyan children to play.

The name of this tropical genus is dedicated to Carl Peter Thunberg, Swedish botanist known as the Father of South African botany.


Source: http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunbergia

See Also: International Flower Delivery, Florist