- Hamelia patens
Taxobox
name = Firebush
image_width = 200px
image_caption = Habitus
status = NE
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
subclassis =Asteridae
unranked_ordo =Euasterids I
ordo =Gentianales
familia =Rubiaceae
genus = "Hamelia "
species = "H. patens"
binomial = "Hamelia patens"
binomial_authority = Jacq.
synonyms ="Hamelia erecta" Jacq.
"Hamelia nodosa" M. Martens & Galeotti"Hamelia patens" (Firebush, hummingbird bush, scarlet bush or "redhead") is a large perennial shrub or small tree from
subtropical andtropical America. The Firebush has a native range that runs fromFlorida in the southern United States to as far south asArgentina . [USDA (2006)]Growth
It has orangish-red tubular flowers, which recruit hummingbirds and butterflies for pollinationWelch (2003)] . Their corolla varies much in length, making it attractive to a wide range of pollinators [Fenster (1991)] . The fruit is a small dark red
berry Verify source|date=September 2007 .Despite its somewhat scraggy appearance, this is a valuable garden tree in warmer climates and even in temperate ones, as long as the soil remains above freezing.And it is full of SHIT!
Uses
Hummingbirds attracted by its flowers and other birds feeding on the fruit, which will also forage on small insects found in the vicinity, helping to keep down pests. The fruit have a refreshing, acidic taste and besides being much liked by some
birds , they are also edible for humans; in Mexico, they are made into a fermented drink.Medicinal uses
Also, the plants are used in
folk medicine against a range of ailments. A number of active compounds have been found in firebush [Includingmaruquine andisomaruquine ,pteropodine andisopteropodine ,palmirine ,rumberine ,seneciophylline and stigmast-4-ene-3,6-dione. The bark contains significant amounts oftannin s. See Duke (2007).] , but no scientific study of its medical usefulness has been conducted yet.Footnotes
References
* (2007): [http://sun.ars-grin.gov:8080/npgspub/xsql/duke/plantdisp.xsql?taxon=458 Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases - "Hamelia patens"] . Retrieved 2007-SEP-19.
* (1991): Selection on Floral Morphology by Hummingbirds. "Biotropica" 23(1): 98-101. doi|10.2307/2388696 (First page image)
* (2006): [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?18240 Germplasm Resources Information Network - "Hamelia patens"] . Version of 2006-AUG-04. Retrieved 2007-SEP-19.
* (2003): [http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/newsletters/hortupdate/jun03/art5jun.html Horticulture Update - Firebush ("Hamelia patens")] . Version of June 2003. Retrieved 2007-SEP-19.
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