| Noun | 1. | genus Acanthus - bear's breeches asterid dicot genus - genus of more or less advanced dicotyledonous herbs and some trees and shrubs Acanthaceae, acanthus family, family Acanthaceae - widely distributed herbs and shrubs and trees; sometimes placed in the order Scrophulariales acanthus - any plant of the genus Acanthus having large spiny leaves and spikes or white or purplish flowers; native to Mediterranean region but widely cultivated |