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May 29, 2008 : Cuphea ignea
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Plant Family / Families: Lythraceae
Scientific Name and Author: Cuphea ignea A. DC.
Name Location: cultivated in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Thank you to Meighan@Flickr for sharing today's photograph, via the Flickr BPotD Group Pool (original image). Meighan has plenty of plant-related photographs on Flickr, including a number of images of Ikebana. Much appreciated!
Cuphea ignea is native to Oaxaca, Veracruz and Chiapas. In English, its common names include cigar flower and firecracker plant (a nod to the specific epithet ignea, meaning fiery-red). With a long, red tubular flower, it is no surprise that these are hummingbird-pollinated.
If you're a gardener, you may like to read what Herself's Houston Garden has to say about the plant and / or read the Kemper Center for Home Gardening's factsheet: Cuphea ignea. For those of you in tropical climates, though, be cautious: Cuphea ignea is listed in the Global Invasive Species Database. I think it's a coincidence, but another member of the family is a well-known invasive to North Americans: Lythrum salicaria.
Unlike other members of its 250+ species-strong genus, there doesn't seem to be any use of Cuphea ignea in the production of cuphea oil, a palm oil substitute.
Michigan State University's Plant Encyclopedia has a series of photographs of Cuphea ignea.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at May 29, 2008 9:30 AM
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Posted by: Meg Bernstein at May 29, 2008 12:26 PM
These are used here in Hawai`i for lei. A good example can be found here: http://www.geckofarms.com/Leis/kika_close.jpg
Yah - takes a BUNCH of these flowers to do one.
Thanks for all the great photos and all the great information!
Posted by: Chris at May 29, 2008 1:10 PM
we do indeed grow this plant in florida
and tis invasive like the brazil pepper tree
now i am going back to meigans ikebana page
i can use the lessons i shall one or two
thank you daniel and meigan
Posted by: elizabeth a airhart at May 29, 2008 2:28 PM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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Thanks again for mentioning the pollinator.