Lepidagathis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, within the order Lamiales. The genus comprises approximately 156 accepted species of herbs and subshrubs distributed across the tropics of the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, south and southeast Asia, southern China, Malesia, and New Guinea.
Members of Lepidagathis are characterized by the features typical of Acanthaceae: opposite leaves, zygomorphic flowers arranged in dense spikes or heads, and bracts that are often conspicuous and papery (scarious). The genus name and the distinctive bract morphology distinguish it from related genera in the family.
The genus has its greatest diversity in tropical Asia and Africa, with numerous species described from the Indian subcontinent, the Philippines, Borneo, and West Africa. Species such as Lepidagathis incurva and Lepidagathis hamiltoniana are among the more widely documented members in south Asian flora. Lepidagathis macrantha is noted for its large-bracted inflorescences.
Distribution
Lepidagathis is distributed across the tropics, with species found in the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, south and southeast Asia, southern China, Malesia, and New Guinea. The greatest species richness occurs in tropical Asia and Africa.
Taxonomy Notes
Lepidagathis belongs to the family Acanthaceae in the order Lamiales. GBIF recognises it as an accepted genus with no authorship recorded at genus rank. The 156 accepted species were circumscribed by various authors, with revisions contributed by Nees, C.B.Clarke, Merr., Benoist, Bremek., Kameyama, and Wassh., among others.
