Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 0.2 m to 0.9 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Brazil, Mexico and Southern United States |
|---|---|
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a clump forming plant, with upright stems. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are opposite, 3 - 8cm long, dark to medium green, elliptical with serrate or toothed margins. |
| Flowers | Flowers are borne in whorls, densely packed on spike-like terminal racemes of about 12 - 25cm long. Flowers are scarlet in colour. The calyces remain on the plant after the flowers have fallen off. |
| Cultivation | Seeds can be sown directly into the ground. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: It is purportedly useful for curing diarrhoea and removing mucous congestion. It is also considered useful for drying breast milk in mothers who are trying to wean their babies. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | A classic bedding plant for sunny containers and beds. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
| Landscape Uses | Flowerbed / Border, Container Planting |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting (Flowers), Butterfly-Attracting (Flower Nectar) |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Individual Flower Shape | Tubular |
| Inflorescence Type | Raceme |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1121 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2414 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
