The family Acanthaceae is a diverse group of flowering plants that includes approximately 4,000 species. Within this family, there are several synonyms used to describe its members, including the Acanthus family, the bear's breeches family, and the ruellia family. These names are derived from various genera within the family, such as Acanthus, which includes the popular ornamental plant Acanthus mollis, and Ruellia, which includes species like Ruellia tuberosa. The Acanthaceae family is known for its unique, often showy flowers and is distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world. With such a varied group of species, the synonyms for the Acanthaceae family highlight its rich diversity and importance in horticulture and botany.