Acanthus, a genus of perennial herbs native in the countries of the Mediterranean. The acanthus family contains some 1400 species of herbs and shrubs, chiefly tropical. The name is from the Greek and signifies a thorn. It has reference to the spines which terminate the lobes of the leaves of certain species. The acanthus proper includes several species, the chief of which are the soft-leaved and the spiny-leaved acanthus. These and other species are cultivated for borders and window plants. The flower stem springs to a height of three feet from the center of a rosette or cluster of handsome, dark green, shining leaves, and bears a spike of large monopetalous, irregular white or yellowish flowers. The stem, leaves, and roots of the plant are mucilaginous. A deep blue dye is obtained from a kindred species growing in Assam. The acanthus is known in British gardens as bear's breech. The acanthus leaf is noted in art. The leaves that adorn the capital of the Corinthian column are the conventionalized foliage of the spiny-leaved acanthus known to botanists as Acanthus spinosus. The acanthus leaf was a favorite design for the ornamentation of the cornice and frieze not only in Grecian but in Roman, Byzantine, medieval, and Renaissance architecture. The acanthus leaf was employed also in decorating vases, drinking cups, platters, and furniture. An acanthus design was adopted for embroidery and other needlework and was used by the house decorator for walls.