Biology:Cuphea ignea
| Cuphea ignea | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Lythraceae |
| Genus: | Cuphea |
| Species: | C. ignea
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| Binomial name | |
| Cuphea ignea A.DC.
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Cuphea ignea, the cigar plant, cigar flower,[2] firecracker plant, or Mexican cigar, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Cuphea of the family Lythraceae. It is a tropical, densely branched evergreen subshrub.[3] This species, native to Mexico and the West Indies, produces small, tubular, bright red to orange flowers.[4] Each flower is tipped with a thin white rim and two small purple-black petals. The flowers, which are attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies,[5] resemble lit cigars, hence the name ignea, which is Latin for "fiery".[6] The genus name Cuphea comes from the Greek word kyphos which means curved or humped; this is thought to refer to the shape of the seeds.[4] The leaves are small, elliptical and of a bright green colour. It grows to about 60 cm (24 in).[7]
Cultivation
In temperate climates Cuphea ignea requires a warm, sheltered spot, as it does not tolerate frost. Alternately it may be grown under glass or indoors as a houseplant. In the UK this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit[8] (confirmed 2017).[9]
In the US, Cuphea ignea is winter hardy to USDA zones 10–12.[4] It is somewhat drought tolerant, but prefers well-watered, well-drained soils.[5]
References
- ↑ "NatureServe Explorer". https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.154199/Cuphea_ignea.
- ↑ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Cuphea ignea". Itis.gov. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=Scientific_Name&search_kingdom=every&search_span=exactly_for&categories=All&source=html&search_credRating=All&search_value=Cuphea%20ignea. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ↑ "Cuphea ignea". Floridata. http://www.floridata.com/ref/C/cuph_ign.cfm. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Cuphea ignea". http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c516.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Cuphea ignea (Firecracker Plant, Mexican Cigar Plant) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cuphea-ignea/.
- ↑ "Cuphea ignea". Mobot.org. http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=C516. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ↑ "Cuphea ignea {Lythraceae} Cigar Flower, Cigarette Plant". Titanarum.uconn.edu. Archived from the original on 2010-06-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20100630061802/http://titanarum.uconn.edu/198500176.html. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ↑ "Cuphea ignea". Royal Horticultural Society. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/5037/Cuphea-ignea/Details. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
- ↑ "AGM Plants - Ornamental". Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 26. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l'Europe. Ghent (Gand) 5: t. 500c. 1849
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q15528510 entry
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