Bear's-breeches
What are they?
The bear's-breeches are members of the Acanthaceae, a large family of mostly tropical plants with just a few species occurring northward into southern Europe. The plants typically have showy flowers that are two-lipped and usually arranged in spike-like clusters with often brightly coloured bracts to attract insects for pollination. The family contains many woody plants but the plants here are typically herbaceous perennials.
Where are they found?
These are popular garden plants but they can be rather aggressive and dominant, often resulting in their removal from the flower border. Thus these plants are most likely to turn up where garden waste is dumped.
Identification
The tall and impressive spikes of bicoloured flowers are easily identified, while the presence or absence of spines on the leaves will help to tell the two species apart.
Spineless Bear's-breech Acanthus mollis
Introduced from the Mediterranean region as a garden ornamental and occasionally found where persisting on roadsides and rough ground from original plantings or dumped garden waste. Flowers June to August. Leaves glossy with relatively broad side lobes and no spines.
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Spiny Bear's-breech Acanthus spinosus
Introduced from the Mediterranean region as a garden ornamental and occasionally found where persisting on roadsides and rough ground from original plantings or dumped garden waste. Far less popular due to its spiny leaves and thus less likely to be found than the specie above. Flowers June to August. Leaves glossy with pale veins and sharp spines.
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