Hamelia patens
| Hamelia patens | |
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| File:Starr 031108-3166 Hamelia patens.jpg | |
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Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
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H. patens
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| Binomial name | |
| Hamelia patens Jacq., 1763
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| File:Hamelia patens range map.jpg | |
| Natural range in United States | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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List
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Hamelia patens is a large perennial shrub or small tree in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, that is native to the American subtropics and tropics. Its range extends from Florida in the southern United States to as far south as Argentina.[2] Common names include firebush, hummingbird bush, scarlet bush and redhead.
Growth
Firebush has orangish-red tubular flowers, which recruit hummingbirds and butterflies for pollination.[3] The corollas vary greatly in length, making them attractive to a wide range of pollinators.[4] The fruit is a small dark red berry, turning black at maturity.[5]
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.[3]
Uses
Hummingbirds are attracted by its flowers and other birds feed on the fruit, both of which will also forage on small insects found in the vicinity, helping to keep down pests. The fruit have a refreshing, acidic taste and are also edible by 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, isomaruquine, pteropodine, isopteropodine, palmirine, rumberine, seneciophylline and stigmast-4-ene-3,6-dione.[6] The bark contains significant amounts of tannins. No scientific study of the medical usefulness of Hamelia patens has been conducted. In Belize this plant's Mayan Name is Ix Canaan and is also known as "Guardian of the Forest". It is valued for the leaves which are used in preparations for treating skin conditions and infections.
Gallery
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Hamelia patens in belize.jpg
Inflorescence
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HameliaPatens.jpg
Foliage
Footnotes
References
- Fenster, Charles B. (1991): Selection on Floral Morphology by Hummingbirds. Biotropica 23(1): 98-101. doi:10.2307/2388696 (First page image)
- Francis, John K. (undated) http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Hamelia%20patens.pdf Hamelia patens.pdf. Retrieved 2009-AUG-25.
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (2006): Germplasm Resources Information Network - Hamelia patens. Version of 2006-AUG-04. Retrieved 2009-DEC-17.
- Welch, Willam C. (2003): Horticulture Update - Firebush (Hamelia patens). Version of June 2003. Retrieved 2009-AUG-25.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hamelia patens. |
Data related to Hamelia patens at Wikispecies
- Pages with broken file links
- Commons category link is defined as the pagename
- Hamelia
- Flora of the Caribbean
- Flora of Florida
- Flora of Mexico
- Flora of Central America
- Flora of South America
- Medicinal plants of Central America
- Medicinal plants of North America
- Medicinal plants of South America
- Plants described in 1763
- Butterfly food plants
- Garden plants of North America
- Garden plants of South America
