Hamelia patens

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

Botanical Name : Hamelia patens Jacq.
The genus is named after Henry Louis Hamel de Monceau, a prominent French botanist. The latin word patens means spreading and refers to the habit of the species.
Synonyms : Hamelia erecta Jacq.
Common Name : Fire Bush, Scarlet Bush, Humming Bird Bush
Plant Family : Rubiaceae
Plant Form : Shrub
Occurrence (Sectors) : 13, 15, 17, 27, 28
Occurrence (Special Areas) : Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation, Indroda Park, Punit Van, Sarita Udyan, Infocity, Aranya Van

Habit : An ornamental evergreen shrub having branched tap root system.
Stem : Woody, solid, aerial, Erect, branched, cylindrical.
Leaves : Cauline, whorled, stipulate, petiolate, simple, ovate, entire, acute, unicostate reticulate venation.
Inflorescence : Polychasial cyme with each helicoid branch.
Flowers :
- Ebracteate, hermaphrodite, actinomorphic, pentamerous, epigynous.
- Calyx made up of sepals 5, gamosepalous,petaloid, reddish, valvate.
- Corolla made up of 5 petals, gamopetalous, twisted, large and tubular.
- Androecium made up of 5 stamens, polyandrous, epipetalous, dithecous, basifixed, introrse.
- Gynoecium composed of pentacarpellary, syncarpous, inferior pentalocular, axile placentation.
Fruit : 5-valved, loculicidal capsule
Seeds : Small, endospermic.
Flowering and Fruiting Time : June-September
Significance :Cultivated in gardens.