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(Last Modified On 8/15/2013)
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(Last Modified On 8/15/2013)
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Species
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Russelia equisetiformis Schlecht. & Cham.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Linnaea 6: 377. 1831.
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Note
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TYPE: Mexico, Schiede & Deppe 1187 (GH, not seen).
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Synonym
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Russelia juncea Zucc., Flora 15 Beibl. 2: 99. 1832. TYPE: Cult. Munich, seed from Mexico, Zuccarini (?M, not seen).
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Description
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Erect, branched, semileafless herbs to 1 m tall, the stems conspicuously 4-8 angled, the angles stramineous, glabrate, the branching often verticillate, each branch subtended by a leaf or adnate petiole. Leaves opposite or verticillate, subtending branches, oblong, elliptical or ovate, mostly less than 1 cm long, 6 mm wide, entire or-serrate, the lateral veins 2-3 on each side, glabrate with a few scattered glands and minutely tomentose at the base of the costa above; petiole short, minutely tomentose above, the lower 1/2 tightly connivent with the axillary branch, medially callose and with thickened margins. Inflorescences paired, solitary or dichasial flowers scattered through the upper part of the plant, or condensed into open cymes or panicles, the peduncles to 15 mm long, the pedicels slender,' sometimes purplish, 6-S8 mm long, each subtended by a scalelike glabrate bract. Flowers small but showy, the calyx 2-3 mm long, the 5 deltoid lobes free to near the base, imbricate, glabrous, mostly eglandular; corolla tubular, scarlet, 15-30 mm long, glabrous but glandular in the throat, the lobes short, obtuse, similar; stamens 4, inserted at the base of the corolla tube, the anther thecae ovoid or elliptical, strongly divaricate, obliquely con- nivent at the base, 0.6-1.0 mm long, all situated on the lower side at the corolla mouth; style apically curved. Capsule not seen.
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Habit
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herbs
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Distribution
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This species is perhaps native to Mexico but is widely cultivated and is now naturalized in many tropical and subtropical countries.
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Native
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Mexico
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Note
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In Panama it is known only in cultivation but may be expected to persist from time to time. The broom- like, usually leafless stems and small showy red flowers are good features for recognition. Young plants, especially those grown in shelter from sun and wind, tend to have more leaves.
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Specimen
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CANAL ZONE: Cultivated, Summit Gardens, DArcy 10640A (MO). PANAMA: Cultivated, Panama la Vieja, Paul 782 (US).
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Tag
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Project Name
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