Flora of North America species comparison

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Russelia equisetiformis

fountain or firecracker or coral plant, fountainbush
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
Phenology Flowering year-round.
Habitat Disturbed pinelands, palmetto scrub, old gardens.
Elevation 0–100 m. (0–300 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
FL; Mexico [Introduced in North America]
[BONAP county map]
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)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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