Russelia equisetiformis

• Botanical Name : Russelia equisetiformis Schltdl. & Cham.
• Synonyms : Russelia juncea Zucc.
• Common Name : Weeying Mary, The Coral Plant, Fountain or Fire-Cracker Plant, Rusili
• Plant Family : Scrophulariaceae
• Plant Form : Herb
• Occurrence (Sectors) : 17
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park

About Russelia equisetiformis Plant :

• Habit : A much branched phylloclade with thick nodes, and whorled, angled, grooved pendulous branches.
• Leaves : Opposite or whorled, linear-lanceolate, very small and usually reduced to mere scales.
• Inflorescence : Racemes or on 2-3 flowered peduncles.
• Flowers :
  • Red coloured.
  • Calyx bell-shaped, brown or reddish, lobes 5, imbricate.
  • Corolla tubular ending in 5 rounded lobes.
  • Stamens 4 perfect and 1 staminode, anther cells divergent and confluent.
  • Ovary 2-celled, seated on a fleshy disk, ovules many.
• Fruit : Capsules septicidal, many seeded.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : All the year round.
• Significance : Cultivated in the gardens everywhere.