Tribe Ruellieae Higher classification Ruelliinae | Subfamily Acanthoideae Scientific name Ruellia Rank Genus | |
 | ||
Lower classifications Ruellia tuberosa, Ruellia humilis, Ruellia brevifolia, Ruellia devosiana | ||
Mexican petunia ruellia brittoniana
Ruellia is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as ruellias or wild petunias. They are not closely related to petunias (Petunia) although both genera belong to the same euasterid clade. The genus was named in honor of Jean Ruelle, herbalist and physician to Francis I of France and translator of several works of Dioscorides.
Contents
- Mexican petunia ruellia brittoniana
- Ruellia simplex brittoniana tweediana mexican petunia
- Formerly placed here
- References
Apart from the numerous formerly independent genera nowadays considered synonymous with Ruellia, the segregate genera Blechum, Eusiphon, Polylychnis and Ulleria are often included in Ruellia. Acanthopale, however, is considered a distinct genus.
Ruellias are popular ornamental plants. Some are used as medicinal plants, but many are known or suspected to be poisonous. Their leaves are food for the caterpillars of several Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), typically Nymphalinae and in particular members of their tribe Junoniini. Nymphalinae using Ruellia as host plants include the Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), recorded on R. nodiflora, the Lemon Pansy (Junonia lemonias), recorded on R. tuberosa, and th Malachite Butterfly (Siproeta stelenes) and Australian Lurcher (Yoma sabina), which are recorded on several species.
Ruellia simplex brittoniana tweediana mexican petunia
Formerly placed here
Numerous plants, mainly Acanthaceae, are former members of Ruellia. Some examples are:
