Dianthera americana

American water-willow

Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Dianthera
Species:
D. americana
Binomial name
Dianthera americana
L. (1753)
Synonyms
  • Dianthera americana var. subcoriacea (Fernald) Shinners (1957)
  • Dianthera ensiformis Walter (1788)
  • Dianthera formosa Raf. (1840)
  • Dianthera heterophyla Raf. (1840)
  • Dianthera linearifolia (Lam.) Raf. (1840)
  • Dianthera longifolia Raf. (1840)
  • Dianthera repanda Raf. (1840)
  • Ecbolium americanum (L.) Kuntze (1891)
  • Gendarussa pedunculosa C.Presl (1845)
  • Justicia americana (L.) Vahl (1791)
  • Justicia americana var. subcoriacea Fernald (1941)
  • Justicia ensiformis (Walter) Forsyth f. (1794)
  • Justicia linearifolia Lam. (1785)
  • Justicia mortui-fluminis Fernald (1942)
  • Justicia pedunculosa Michx. (1803), nom. superfl.
  • Justicia umbratilis Fernald (1941), nom. illeg.
  • Rhytiglossa ensiformis Alph.Wood (1861)
  • Rhytiglossa pedunculosa Nees (1847), nom. superfl.

Dianthera americana, commonly known as the American water-willow, is an herbaceous, aquatic flowering plant in the family Acanthaceae. This perennial species is native to North America, and can typically be found in abundance throughout the eastern half of the continent along shorelines, in lakes or ponds, or in the shallow riffles of streams and rivers. The species has biological interest because of its unusual vegetative reproduction and historical association with mosquito breeding.