Thunbergia alata - Black-eyed Susan vine

Thunbergia alata otherwise known in English as Black-eyed Susan is often seen in some parts of the world as a vine that grows on fences or over other plants. It is sometimes considered a weed despite its striking flowers for which it is cultivated and prized for by some gardeners who grow it on trellises or as a green screen for privacy.

Thunbergia alata, Black-eyed Susan vine

The genus Thunbergia is named in honour of the 18th century Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg.

Additional Information:

Scientific Name: Thunbergia alata
Common names: Black-eyed Susan vine (English); Suzanne aux yeux noirs (French); Schwarzäugige Susanne (German); Suzanne-met-de-mooie-ogen (Dutch);
Taxonomic hierarchy: 

Kingdom: Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom: Viridaeplantae – Green plants
Infrakingdom: Streptophyta – Land plants
Division: Tracheophyta – Vascular plants
Subdivision: Spermatophytina – Spermatophytes (seed plants)
Infradivision: Angiospermae – Angiosperms (flowering plants)
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Superorder: Asteranae –
Order: Lamiales –
Family: Acanthaceae –
Genus: Thunbergia – 
Species: Thunbergia alata –

Notes: 

• I am using the taxonomical classification system used by ITIS (Intergrated Taxonomic Information System). I have decided to use this system in order to avoid confusion as well as because it offers a comprehensive hierarchy from kingdom right through to subspecies whereas other sources only go as far as order or  provide the names of some of the higher taxonomical ranks but only indicate "unclassified" rather than providing the rank.
• When and where possible I will endeavour to include alternatives classifications although  I may limit this to occasions where an opportunity arises to discuss the reason for the different classifications.
• Taxonomical data used in this post was retrieved [June 15 2014], from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line database, http://www.itis.gov.

References:

Books:

• Royal Horticultural Society:

On-line sources:

• Royal Horticultural Society: Entry for Thunbergia alata
• Official Website of the: Bristol University Botanical Gardens Thunbergia alata
• BBC Plant Finder: Entry for Black-eyed Susan
• Kew Gardens - Seed Information Database: Entry for Thunbergia alata
• Missouri Botanical gardens: Entry for Thunbergia alata
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line database: Entry for Thunbergia alata
• Hawaiian Plants and Tropical Flowers: Entry for Thunbergia alata - Black-eyed Susan vine
• Missouri Botanical gardens: Entry for Thunbergia alata
• Dave's Garden: Entry for Thunbergia alata
• Fine Gardening: Entry for Thunbergia alata
• Cresent Bloom: Entry for  Super Order Asteranae
• Wikipedia: Entry for Thunbergia alata
• Wikipedia: Entry for Thunbergia
• Wikipedia: Entry for Acanthaceae
• Wikipedia: Entry for Lamiales

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