Bot. [mod.L., f. the name of C. P. Thunberg, a Swedish botanist and traveller (1743–1822).] A genus of herbaceous (mostly climbing) plants, N.O. Acanthaceæ, natives of tropical and sub-tropical parts of Africa and Asia, of which many species are cultivated in greenhouses for the beauty of their various-colored flowers.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXIV. 411/2. Retzius named a genus of plants in the natural order Acanthaceæ, in honour of him [C. P. Thunberg], Thunbergia.
1893. Mrs. C. Praed, Outlaw & Lawmaker, II. 69. A trellis of Cape jasmine and thunbergia.
1898. J. D. Rees, in 19th Cent., June, 1017. The beautiful blue thunbergia.
