Cuphea ignea
Encyclopedia
Cuphea ignea, also known as the Cigar plant, Cigar flower, Firecracker plant, or Mexican Cigar, is a tropical, perennial, densely-branched evergreen sub-shrub. This species, native to Mexico
and the West Indies, produces small, tubular, bright red to orange flowers. Each flower is tipped with a thin, white rim and two small purple-black petals. The flowers are considered to resemble a lit cigar
, hence the name. The leaves are small, elliptical and of a bright green colour. This bushy shrub grows to about 60 cm. The name 'ignea' comes from the Latin
word for fire.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and the West Indies, produces small, tubular, bright red to orange flowers. Each flower is tipped with a thin, white rim and two small purple-black petals. The flowers are considered to resemble a lit cigar
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
, hence the name. The leaves are small, elliptical and of a bright green colour. This bushy shrub grows to about 60 cm. The name 'ignea' comes from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
word for fire.