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Portlandia coccinea | |
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Portlandia coccinea | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Rubiaceae |
Genus: | Portlandia |
Species: | P. coccinea |
Binomial name | |
Portlandia coccinea | |
Portlandia coccinea is a small tree or shrub with bright red flowers endemic to Jamaica. The species was first described in 1788. A population with darker flowers had been considered a subspecies of P. coccinea, but was described as a separate species, P. proctori, in 2003. [1]
Endemic to Jamaica's Caribbean ecology and biography Portlandia coccinea thrive most in warm climates and can survive in acidic soil and high altitude. These plants contain beautiful bell like ornamental flowers used in landscaping. The plants flower twice a year, once from March to October, June to August,[ clarification needed ] and fruit between July and October. [2]
Portlandia coccinea grow as evergreen shrubs or treelets 2.5–5 m in height, with pyramidal architecture. Their branches are very thin and brittle with a pale complexion. Leaves are oval, waxy, and dark green in color. They have stipules that are usually free or narrowly connected to the base. The plants flower twice a year, once from March to October, June to August,[ clarification needed ] and fruit between July and October. The inflorescence is a reduced cyme (determinate), with 1–3 trumpet shaped flowers at each node. Stigmas and anthers of each flower project just beyond the corolla. Colors range from dark pink and deep crimson to white (hybrids) and are 6–8.5 cm in length. Flowers are followed by woody capsules containing the seeds. [3]
Portlandia coccinea grows in the understory of limestone montane forests. In its native habitat, it is mainly pollinated by a Hummingbird called the Jamaica Mango. It is also pollinated by the red-billed Hummingbird. [4]
Portlandia coccinea grows very beautiful and exotic flowers. Therefore, its economic purpose is mostly ornamental. It is planted in gardens to display its large attractive flowers. Hybrids of this species and other species of the same genus have been created to display several different colors of flowers. [5]
Portlandia coccinea is a slow growing shrub. It can be grown in areas of warm climate, including subtropical areas such as Miami. It prefers limestone soils. The plant will flower throughout the year if continuously irrigated. [6] [7]
Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with interpetiolar stipules and sympetalous actinomorphic flowers. The family contains about 13,500 species in about 620 genera, which makes it the fourth-largest angiosperm family. Rubiaceae has a cosmopolitan distribution; however, the largest species diversity is concentrated in the tropics and subtropics. Economically important genera include Coffea, the source of coffee, Cinchona, the source of the antimalarial alkaloid quinine, ornamental cultivars, and historically some dye plants.
Justicia brandegeeana, the Mexican shrimp plant, shrimp plant or false hop, is an evergreen shrub in the genus Justicia of the acanthus family Acanthaceae, native to Mexico, and also naturalized in Florida.
Lapageria is a genus of flowering plants with only one known species, Lapageria rosea, commonly known as Chilean bellflower or copihue. Lapageria rosea is endemic to Chile and it is the national flower of this country. It grows in forests in the southern part of Chile, being part of the Valdivian temperate rainforests ecoregion flora.
Fuchsia is a genus of flowering plants that consists mostly of shrubs or small trees.
Passiflora, known also as the passion flowers or passion vines, is a genus of about 550 species of flowering plants, the type genus of the family Passifloraceae.
Zinnia is a genus of plants of the tribe Heliantheae within the family Asteraceae. They are native to scrub and dry grassland in an area stretching from the Southwestern United States to South America, with a centre of diversity in Mexico. Members of the genus are notable for their solitary long-stemmed 12 petal flowers that come in a variety of bright colors. The genus name honors German master botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn (1727–59).
Euonymus europaeus, the spindle, European spindle, or common spindle, is a species of flowering plant in the family Celastraceae, native to much of Europe, where it inhabits the edges of forest, hedges and gentle slopes, tending to thrive on nutrient-rich, chalky and salt-poor soils. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree.
Vaccinium corymbosum, the northern highbush blueberry, is a North American species of blueberry which has become a food crop of significant economic importance. It is native to eastern Canada and the eastern and southern United States, from Ontario east to Nova Scotia and south as far as Florida and eastern Texas. It is also naturalized in other places: Europe, Japan, New Zealand, the Pacific Northwest of North America, etc. Other common names include blue huckleberry, tall huckleberry, swamp huckleberry, high blueberry, and swamp blueberry.
Rhododendron calendulaceum, the flame azalea, is a species of Rhododendron. It is a deciduous shrub that grows up to 120–450 cm tall. This species of Rhododendron is native to the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States, ranging from southern Pennsylvania and Ohio to northern Georgia. It may be extirpated from Pennsylvania and Alabama. It occurs naturally in mixed deciduous forests and is typically found in woodland slopes and mountain balds in the Appalachians, where it prefers dry and rocky mountain woods. The inflorescences of Rhododendron calendulaceum are visited by many animals such as bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and small mammals. It is a popular cultivated plant due to its bright yellow, orange or red flowers.
Ixora coccinea is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is a common flowering shrub native to Southern India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. It has become one of the most popular flowering shrubs in South Florida gardens and landscapes. It is the national flower of Suriname. Commercially important medicinal plant, used in ayurveda. All parts including flower, leaves and root are taken for various medicinal preparations for skin disease, Diabetes etc.
Hamelia patens is a large 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. 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".
Portlandia grandiflora is a species of plant in the family Rubiaceae. Commonly known as the bell flower, this plant is considered native to Jamaica but is also native to Cuba. It is mainly found in limestone montane forests although some occur on karst areas near Jamaica's coast. It mostly grows on alkaline soils as can be observed by the habitats they are found in. In Jamaica, they flower most frequently in May, June, and August, and fruit during the months of January and December.
Kennedia coccinea, commonly known as coral vine, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a twining, climbing or prostrate shrub with trifoliate leaves and orange-pink, red and pink, pea-like flowers.
Xylococcus is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the heather family which contains the single species Xylococcus bicolor, commonly known as the mission manzanita. It is a burl-forming, evergreen shrub with leathery leaves and smooth dark reddish bark. From December to February, white to pink urn-shaped flowers adorn the foliage, often attracting hummingbird pollinators. It is native to southern California and the Baja California Peninsula, south to the Sierra de la Giganta. There is growing concern over the future of this plant, referred to as the "queen of the elfin forest, " as it may possibly lose up to 88% of its habitat and its wild seedlings are failing to survive more than a full year.
Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the sage family Lamiaceae, with nearly 1000 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. Within the Lamiaceae, Salvia is part of the tribe Mentheae within the subfamily Nepetoideae. One of several genera commonly referred to as sage, it includes two widely used herbs, Salvia officinalis and Salvia rosmarinus.
Cestrum elegans, the purple cestrum, red cestrum, or bastard jasmine, is a species of flowering plants in the genus Cestrum.
Portlandia is a genus of flowering plants in the coffee family, Rubiaceae. Members of the genus are endemic to Jamaica.
Cubanola domingensis, or campanita, are small trees endemic to the Dominican Republic.
Psychotria tenuifolia, commonly known as velvet-leaved wild coffee, is a species of plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is endemic to southern Florida, South America and the Caribbean. The description of velvet is based on the silky appearance that the leaves display in relation to other species of the same plant family.
Leucadendron macowanii, the acacia-leaf conebush, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Leucadendron and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, South Africa.