Cuphea

Cigar Plant ( Cuphea ignea )

Quiver Floral ( Cuphea ) are a genus in the family Lythraceae ( Lythraceae ). The genus includes about 250 to 260 species.

Description

These are annual or perennial herbaceous plants, and woody shrubs up to 2 m high half.

The zygomorphic flowers are partially pollinated by hummingbirds.

Dissemination

The species of the genus Cuphea occur in the warm temperate to tropical regions of North and South America.

Use

Some species are cultivated as ornamental plants for their flowers in Central Europe. When cigarette Quiver Floral ( Cuphea ignea ), also called the Cigar Plant, Zigarettenfuchsie, Zündholzfuchsie, Streichholzfuchsie, matchstick plant or cigar flower, which is often used as bedding and balcony plant, the color effect of the orange-red, marked with a white and blackish hem flowers goes solely by the fused from sepals, petals absent.

The seeds of various species of Cuphea are rich in saturated fatty acids, such as lauric acid. Thus they are, for example, for the cosmetics industry is of interest.

Species list (selection)

• Cuphea acicularis Koehne
• Cuphea acinifolia A.St. - Hil.
• Cuphea aequipetala Cav.
• Cuphea angustifolia Jacq. ex Koehne
• Cuphea antisyphilitica Kunth
• Cuphea aperta Koehne
• Cuphea aspera Chapm.
• Cuphea avigera B.L.Rob. & Seaton
• Cuphea axilliflora Koehne
• Cuphea brachiata Mart. ex Koehne
• Cuphea busta manta Lex.
• Cuphea caeciliae Koehne
• Cuphea caesariata S.A.Graham
• Cuphea calaminthifolia Schltdl.
• Cuphea calcarata Benth.
• Cuphea calophylla Cham. & Schltdl.
• Cuphea carthagenensis ( Jacq. ) J.F.Macbr.
• Cuphea confertiflora A.St. - Hil.
• Cuphea crassiflora S.A.Graham
• Blue Floral quiver ( Cuphea cyanea DC. )
• Japanese Scheinmyrthe or Ysopblättriges Quiver Floral ( Cuphea hyssopifolia Kunth )
• Cigar Plant or Zigarettenfuchsie ( Cuphea ignea A.DC. )
• Cuphea jorullensis Kunth
• Lanzettblättriges caddis hermaphrodite flowers or Lanzettblättrige Fir ( Cuphea lanceolata Baill. )
• Cuphea llavea Lex
• Cigarette plant ( Cuphea Melvilla Lindl. )
• Kleinkroniges Quiver Floral ( Cuphea micropetala Kunth )
• Cuphea microphylla Kunth
• Low- Lying Quiver Floral ( Cuphea procumbens Cav. )
• Sticky Quiver Floral ( Cuphea viscosissima Jacq. ): This type is used in homeopathy.