akantos

Akantos, also spelled akántos in diacritics, is the transliteration of the Ancient Greek ακάνθος, meaning thorn or spine. In scientific and classical literature, the root akant- appears in terms describing thorny features, and it is the source of the genus name Acanthus in botany.

The genus Acanthus comprises several species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae. The best known is Acanthus mollis (bear's breeches), an ornamental perennial valued for its large, lobed leaves and tall flower spikes. Acanthus spinosus is another cultivated species. These plants are native to parts of the Mediterranean region and western Asia and are grown widely for ornament.

In classical architecture, the acanthus leaf is a stylized motif used in Corinthian capitals and later in Roman and Renaissance design. The leaf motif has been revived repeatedly in neoclassical architecture and decorative arts, making the acanthus one of the most recognizable plant-inspired motifs in the Western architectural canon.

The root also appears as a prefix in biology and medicine, reflecting its thorny meaning. Terms such as acanthocyte (a thorny or spiky red blood cell) and acanthopterygii (spiny-finned fishes) derive from this Greek root, illustrating the broad cross-disciplinary influence of the word akantos.