Hamelia patens

Hamelia patens

Taxobox
name = Firebush


image_width = 200px
image_caption = Habitus
status = NE
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum = Plantae
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 and tropical America. The Firebush has a native range that runs from Florida in the southern United States to as far south as Argentina. [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 berryVerify 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 [Including maruquine and isomaruquine, pteropodine and isopteropodine, palmirine, rumberine, seneciophylline and stigmast-4-ene-3,6-dione. The bark contains significant amounts of tannins. 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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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Hamelia patens —   Hamelia patens …   Wikipedia Español

  • Hamelia patens — coloradillo coloradillo n. a handsome shrub ({Hamelia patens}) with showy orange to scarlet or crimson flowers; it grows from Florida and West Indies to Mexico and Brazil. Syn: scarlet bush, scarlet hamelia, {Hamelia patens}, Hamelia erecta.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hamelia patens — coloradillo coloradillo n. a handsome shrub ({Hamelia patens}) with showy orange to scarlet or crimson flowers; it grows from Florida and West Indies to Mexico and Brazil. Syn: scarlet bush, scarlet hamelia, {Hamelia patens}, Hamelia erecta.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hamelia patens — paprastasis sartūklas statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Raudinių šeimos vaistinis augalas (Hamelia patens), paplitęs Centrinėje ir Pietų Amerikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Hamelia patens angl. redhead šaltinis Valstybinės lietuvių kalbos komisijos… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • Hamelia patens — noun handsome shrub with showy orange to scarlet or crimson flowers; Florida and West Indies to Mexico and Brazil • Syn: ↑scarlet bush, ↑scarlet hamelia, ↑coloradillo, ↑Hamelia erecta • Hypernyms: ↑hamelia …   Useful english dictionary

  • Hamelia patens — ID 38710 Symbol Key HAPA3 Common Name scarletbush Family Rubiaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity Native to U.S. US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution FL, PR, VI Growth Habit Tree, Shrub Duration …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • Hamelia Patens — Jacq. Red berry (E); Scarletbush (E); Anileto (CR); Azulillo (CR); Coralillo (CR); Palo camaron (CR); Pissi (CR); Uvero (P); Zorrillo (CR) . The ripe fruits are edible (!). The plant is elsewhere considered as a remedy for cancer, erysipelas, and …   EthnoBotanical Dictionary

  • Hamelia patens Jacq. — Symbol HAPA3 Common Name scarletbush Botanical Family Rubiaceae …   Scientific plant list

  • Hamelia —   Hamelia …   Wikipedia Español

  • Hamelia — Taxobox name = Hamelia image width = 200px image caption = Firebush ( Hamelia patens ) regnum = Plantae divisio = Magnoliophyta classis = Magnoliopsida subclassis = Asteridae unranked ordo = Euasterids I ordo = Gentianales familia = Rubiaceae… …   Wikipedia

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