Cuphea ignea
Cuphea ignea, the cigar plant, cigar flower,[1] 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.[2] This species, native to Mexico and the West Indies, produces small, tubular, bright red to orange flowers. Each flower is tipped with a thin, white rim and two small purple-black petals. The flower is said to resemble a lit cigar, hence the name ignea, which comes from the Latin for "fire".[3] The leaves are small, elliptical and of a bright green colour. It grows to about 60 cm (24 in).[4]
| Cuphea ignea | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Lythraceae |
| Genus: | Cuphea |
| Species: | C. ignea |
| Binomial name | |
| Cuphea ignea A. DC. | |
In temperate regions 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[5] (confirmed 2017).[6]
References
- "ITIS Standard Report Page: Cuphea ignea". Itis.gov. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- "Cuphea ignea". Floridata. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- "Cuphea ignea". Mobot.org. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- "Cuphea ignea {Lythraceae} Cigar Flower, Cigarette Plant". Titanarum.uconn.edu. Archived from the original on 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- "Cuphea ignea". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
- "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 26. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l'Europe. Ghent (Gand) 5: t. 500c. 1849