A plant family of the order Lamiales. It is characterized by simple leaves in opposite pairs, cystoliths (enlarged cells containing crystals of calcium carbonate), and bilaterally symmetrical and bisexual flowers that are usually crowded together. The common name for Ruellia of wild petunia is easily confused with PETUNIA.

A plant genus of the family ACANTHACEAE. Delta 6 Hexadecenoic acid (16:1 delta 6) composes 3/4 of the seed oil. Iridoid glycosides, isounedoside and grandifloric acid have been isolated.

Synonyms: txid23945, txid13728, txid13570, Thunbergia, Hypoestes, Acanthaceae, txid4185, txid13659, Hygrophila, txid13326, Ruellia, Acanthus