Hamelia patens

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Hamelia patens
Bencenuco (Hamelia patens) - Flickr - Alejandro Bayer (2).jpg
Habitus
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Hamelia
Species:
H. patens
Binomial name
Hamelia patens
Jacq., 1763
Hamelia patens range map.jpg
Natural range in United States
Synonyms [3]
List
    • Duhamelia odorataWilld. ex Schult.
    • Duhamelia patens(Jacq.) Pers.
    • Duhamelia sphaerocarpa(Ruiz & Pav.) Pers.
    • Hamelia brachystemonWernham
    • Hamelia brittonianaWernham
    • Hamelia coccineaSw.
    • Hamelia corymbosaSessé & Moc.
    • Hamelia erectaJacq.
    • Hamelia intermediaUrb. & Ekman
    • Hamelia lanuginosaM.Martens & Galeotti
    • Hamelia latifoliaRchb. ex DC.
    • Hamelia nodosaM.Martens & Galeotti
    • Hamelia pedicellataWernham
    • Hamelia sphaerocarpaRuiz & Pav.
    • Hamelia suaveolensKunth
    • Hamelia tubifloraWernham
    • Hamelia verticillataMoc. & Sessé ex DC.
    • Hamelia viridifoliaWernham
    • Schoenleinia thyrsoideaMiers

Hamelia patens is a large evergreen perennial shrub or small tree in the 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. [4] Common names include firebush, hummingbird bush, scarlet bush, and redhead. In Belize, this plant's Mayan name is Ix Canaan and is also known as "Guardian of the Forest".

Contents

Growth

Inflorescence Hamelia patens at Kadavoor.jpg
Inflorescence

Firebush has orangish-red tubular flowers, which recruit hummingbirds and butterflies for pollination. [5] The corollas vary greatly in length, making them attractive to a wide range of pollinators. [6] The fruit is a small dark red berry, turning black at maturity. [7]

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. [5]

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. These flowers are also fed on by butterflies, such as the statira sulphur ( Aphrissa statira ), which are attracted to red flowering plants. The fruits have a refreshing, acidic taste and are also edible by humans; in Mexico, they are made into a fermented drink.

Folk medicine

The plants are used in folk medicine for a range of ailments. [8]

Chemical constituents

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. [9] The bark contains significant amounts of tannins.

References

  1. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI); IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group; Cornejo-Tenorio, G.; Ibarra-Manríquez, G.; Lorea Hernández, F. (2019). "Hamelia patens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T136789578A136789580. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T136789578A136789580.en . Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  2. NatureServe. "Hamelia patens". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  3. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Theplantlist.org. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  4. "Hamelia patens". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  5. 1 2 Welch, Willam C. (2003): Horticulture Update - Firebush (Hamelia patens) Archived 2007-07-15 at the Wayback Machine . Version of June 2003. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
  6. Fenster, Charles B. (1991): Selection on Floral Morphology by Hummingbirds. Biotropica23(1): 98-101. doi : 10.2307/2388696 (First page image)
  7. Francis, John K. (undated) Update (Hamelia patens) Retrieved 2009-08-25
  8. "Hamelia patens". Floridata.com. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  9. Duke, Jim (2007): Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases - Hamelia patens Archived 2018-01-10 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 2007-09-19.