Acanthaceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing almost 250 genera and about 2,500 species. Most thrive in tropical regions, and only a few species are distributed in temperate regions. Some studies reported that there is more than 164 species of Acanthaceeae are found in Indonesia, of which 53 were native to Java (Indonesia).

The Acanthaceae family consist of terrestrial or aquatic plants, mostly herbs, shrubs, and a view climbers, like Thunbergia, and some are xerophytes (Barleria, Blepharis, Acanthus), or rarely trees.

The leaves are opposite (usually) and simple. The inflorescence is a cyme, raceme, or of solitary flowers. The flowers are bisexual, zygomorphic, bracteate and bracteolate (the bracts often colored), and hypogynous.