Bear's Breech - Brank Ursine.
Acanthus (from the Greek akanthos, ake meaning thorn, anthos meaning flowers) is a generic term for a variety of thorny plants that appears often in Greek and Roman literature.
- The lovely leaves inspired ideas for column ornamentation in ancient Greek architecture.
Description - Leaves are rectangular with undulating edges, dark green and glossy, 30-60 cm long; stems are straight to 150 cm high, with white or lavender pink flowers on spikes in the summer.
- Distribution Southern European origin. Now widely available.
Cultivation - Tolerates a wide range of soil types, but likes deep loam in full sun or moderate shade.
- In the spring and fall, propagate by division; in the spring, propagate by root cuttings or seed.
- In a big pot in full light, it may be grown as a houseplant.
Uses - Burns and scalds were traditionally treated with crushed leaves.