Thunbergia

Thunbergia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae. It includes 150 species native to tropical and subtropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, southern Asia, New Guinea, and Australia. Thunbergia species are vigorous annual or perennial vines and shrubs growing to 2–8 m tall. The generic name honours the Swedish naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg (1743-1828).

Its members are known by various names, including thunbergias and clockvine. Thunbergia on its own usually refers to Thunbergia grandiflora, while Thunbergia alata is often known as black-eyed Susan vine or just black-eyed Susan (not to be confused with other flowers called black-eyed Susan). Orange clockvine is the name of Thunbergia gregorii.

Thunbergias are frequent garden escapes, becoming invasive species; T. grandiflora, T. fragrans, and T. laurifolia are considered weeds in Australia.

Selected species
150 species are accepted. Selected species include:


 * Thunbergia alata Bojer ex Sims
 * Thunbergia annua Hochst. ex Nees
 * Thunbergia atriplicifolia E.Mey. ex Nees
 * Thunbergia battiscombei Turrill
 * Thunbergia coccinea Wall. ex D.Don
 * Thunbergia cordata Colla
 * Thunbergia elegans Borzí
 * Thunbergia erecta (Benth.) T. Anderson
 * Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
 * Thunbergia gibsonii S. Moore
 * Thunbergia grandiflora Roxb.
 * Thunbergia gregorii S.Moore
 * Thunbergia ikbaliana De Wild.
 * Thunbergia laurifolia Lindl.
 * Thunbergia lutea T. Anderson
 * Thunbergia mysorensis (Wight) T.Anderson
 * Thunbergia natalensis Hook.
 * Thunbergia vogeliana Benth.
 * Thunbergia wightiana T.Anderson

Formerly placed here

 * Meyenia hawtayneana (Wall.) Nees (as T. hawtayneana Wall. )