Russelia equisetiformis |
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fountain or firecracker or coral plant, fountainbush |
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Stems | striate, sometimes rooting at tips, 4–12-angled, 7–15 dm, gland-dotted. |
Leaves | dimorphic; proximal: petiole 3–4 mm, in whorls of 3–6, blade ovate, 8–15 × 6–10 mm, margins dentate, surfaces glandular-punctate; distal: petiole 0–1 mm, opposite or whorled, blade narrowly triangular, needlelike or scalelike, 1–2 × 1 mm, margins entire. |
Inflorescences | 2-flowered; peduncles 3–4 cm. |
Pedicels | 10–15 mm. |
Flowers | calyx lobes 2–3 mm, apex acute or mucronate; corolla 15–25 mm, glabrous, adaxial lip deeply notched; stamens 15–20 mm; staminode 0.5–0.7 mm, sometimes with an abortive anther. |
Capsules | globular, 3–6 mm; style persistent. |
Seeds | 0.3–0.4 mm, pitted. |
2n | = 20. |
Russelia equisetiformis |
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Phenology | Flowering year-round. |
Habitat | Disturbed pinelands, palmetto scrub, old gardens. |
Elevation | 0–100 m. (0–300 ft.) |
Distribution |
FL; Mexico [Introduced in North America] |
Discussion | Russelia equisetiformis is distinguished by its tubular, red corollas and arching, ridged, striate stems with relatively small distal leaves. It has been in cultivation since the eighteenth century and is sometimes grown as an annual in temperate areas. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 17, p. 294. |
Parent taxa | Plantaginaceae > Russelia |
Synonyms | R. juncea |
Name authority | Schlechtendal & Chamisso: Linnaea 6: 377. (1831) |
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