Hypoestes
Encyclopedia
Hypoestes is a flowering plant
genus
with many dozens of species
. They are widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical lands around the Indian Ocean
, and some adjacent regions.
It belongs to the subfamily Acanthoideae of the acanthus family
Acanthaceae
. Therein, it is classified in the subtribe Justiciinae of tribe
Ruellieae, making it a relative of such America
n genera as the mosaic plants (Fittonia), water-willows (Justicia) and wrightworts (Carlowrightia).
Many of these herbaceous
to small shrub
by plants of the undergrowth have boldly patterned leaves, typically featuring red colors. Some are grown as ornamental plant
s or pot plants. Most well-known among these are H. phyllostachya
of Madagascar
and its cultivar
s, commonly called Polka Dot Plant.
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
with many dozens of species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. They are widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical lands around the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
, and some adjacent regions.
It belongs to the subfamily Acanthoideae of the acanthus family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Acanthaceae
Acanthaceae
The family Acanthaceae is a taxon of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing almost 250 genera and about 2500 species....
. Therein, it is classified in the subtribe Justiciinae of tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
Ruellieae, making it a relative of such America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n genera as the mosaic plants (Fittonia), water-willows (Justicia) and wrightworts (Carlowrightia).
Many of these herbaceous
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
to small shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
by plants of the undergrowth have boldly patterned leaves, typically featuring red colors. Some are grown as ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
s or pot plants. Most well-known among these are H. phyllostachya
Hypoestes phyllostachya
Hypoestes phyllostachya, commonly called Polka Dot Plant, is a herbaceous plant native to Madagascar.CultivationHypoestes phyllostachya is cultivated as an ornamental plant commonly used as a houseplant but can also be grown outside as an annual plant. The most common type has pink leaves with...
of Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
and its cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s, commonly called Polka Dot Plant.