Acanthus ilicifolius

Holly-leaved Acanthus, Sea Holly, Holy Mangrove

Message of the Flower

The Guardian

The Mother’s Comment

Vigilant and thorny, it knows how to protect what it guards.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

Vigilance means to be awake, to be on one's guard, to be sincere—never to be taken by surprise. When you want to do sadhana, at each moment of your life, there is a choice between taking a step that leads to the goal and falling asleep or sometimes even going backwards, telling yourself, "Oh, later on, not immediately"—sitting down on the way.

The Mother, Questions and Answers 1929 - 1931: Vigilance

Colour

Deep blue

Family

Acanthaceae

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

2 to 3 inches long

Flower Texture

Smooth

Number of Petals

4 to 5 lobes, structured like a lip

Floral Symmetry

Bilateral

Fragrance of Flower

Mildly fragrant

Leaf Texture

Spiny, glossy

Leaf Arrangement

Opposite

Leaf Color

Green, glossy

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Shrub

Life Cycle

Perennial

Blooming Period

Throughout the year in suitable climates

Climate

Tropical and subtropical

Water Requirements

High

Soil Type

Muddy, saline typical of mangrove swamps

Temperature Ranges

Warm, tropical

Sun or Shade

Partial shade to full sun

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Resistant to most pests

Pollinators

Bees, small insects

Habitat

Mangrove swamps, tidal creeks, saline wetlands

Role in the Ecosystem

Habitat, protection, stabilizes ecosystems

Quotations

Not commonly quoted

Ornamental

Striking foliage and unique flowers

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Medicinal, ecological

Endangered Status

Threatened by habitat destruction