Firebush (Hamelia patens)
Swaminathan, Prakash
<<Firebush (Hamelia patens).JPG>>
Firebush (Hamelia patens) shrub.
Shot at Railway Station, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai.
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Prakash
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Hamelia patens (Firebush, hummingbird bush, scarlet bush or "redhead") is a large perennial shrub or small tree from subtropical and tropical America. The Firebush has a native range that runs from Florida in the southern United States to as far south as Argentina.[1]
It has orangish-red tubular flowers, which recruit hummingbirds and butterflies for pollination[2]. Their corolla varies much in length, making it attractive to a wide range of pollinators[3]. The fruit is a small dark red berry[verification needed].
Despite its somewhat scraggy appearance, this is a valuable garden tree in warmer climates and even in temperate ones, as long as the soil remains above freezing[2]. Hummingbirds attracted by its flowers and other birds feeding on the fruit will also forage on small insects found in the vicinity, helping to keep down pests. The fruit have a refreshing, acidic taste and besides being much liked by some birds, they are also edible for humans; in Mexico, they are made into a fermented drink.
Also, the plants are used in folk medicine against a range of ailments. A number of active compounds have been found in firebush[4], but no scientific study of its medical usefulness has been conducted yet.
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