View source for Cuphea

{{Treatment/ID
|accepted_name=Cuphea
|accepted_authority=P. Browne
|publications={{Treatment/Publication
|title=Civ. Nat. Hist. Jamaica,
|place=216. 1756
|year=1756
}}
|common_names=Waxweed;Mexican heather;cigar flower
|basionyms=
|synonyms={{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Parsonsia
|authority=P. Browne
|rank=genus
}}
|hierarchy=Lythraceae;Cuphea
|hierarchy_nav=<div class="higher-taxa"><div class="higher-taxon"><small>family</small>[[Lythraceae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>genus</small>[[Cuphea]]</div></div>
|etymology=Greek kyphos, humped, alluding to protruding base of floral tube
|volume=Volume 10
|mention_page=
|treatment_page=
}}<!--

--><span class="statement" id="st-d0_s0" data-properties="herb duration;herb duration;herb growth form or habitat;herb some measurement;herb coating;type quantity;indument architecture"><b>Herbs,</b> annual or perennial, [subshrubs], terrestrial [amphibious], 1–10 dm, [glaucous], often glandular-viscid with 1+ types of glandular/eglandular indument, trichomes colorless, white, or red-purple [glabrous];</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s1" data-properties="trichome coloration;trichome coloration;trichome coloration;trichome coloration;trichome coloration">with fibrous-roots or woody xylopodium.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s2" data-properties="stem orientation;stem orientation;stem orientation;stem orientation;stem orientation;stem architecture;stem architecture"><b>Stems </b>erect, decumbent, or spreading, branched or unbranched.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s3" data-properties=""><b>Leaves </b>usually opposite, rarely 3-whorled or 4-whorled, when whorled, opposite at proximal nodes;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s4" data-properties="leaf arrangement;leaf arrangement;leaf arrangement;leaf arrangement;leaf architecture;leaf architecture;leaf architecture;leaf architecture;leaf architecture">sessile, subsessile, or petiolate;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s5" data-properties="blade shape;blade shape;blade shape;blade shape;blade arrangement or shape;blade arrangement or course or shape;base shape;base shape;surface pubescence or relief">blade ovate to lanceolate, oblong, elliptic, or linear, base attenuate or rounded [cuneate, cordate], surfaces finely scabrous.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s6" data-properties="inflorescence development;inflorescence position;inflorescence position;inflorescence architecture;inflorescence architecture;raceme quantity"><b>Inflorescences </b>indeterminate, terminal or axillary, leafy or bracteate racemes [thyrses], 1 flower emerging between petioles at a node, others, when present, on axillary branchlets.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s7" data-properties="flower architecture;flower architecture;flower architecture"><b>Flowers </b>sessile or pedicellate, zygomorphic, monostylous;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s8" data-properties="floral-tube position;floral-tube shape;floral-tube shape;floral-tube architecture or shape;floral-tube architecture or shape;inner surface pubescence;inner surface pubescence">floral-tube perigynous, cylindrical, rounded, or spurred basally, conspicuously 12-ribbed, inner surface villous or glabrous;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s9" data-properties="epicalyx segment height or length or size">epicalyx segments shorter than sepals [to longer than sepals];</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s10" data-properties="sepal quantity;sepal quantity">sepals 6, to 1/4 floral-tube length;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s11" data-properties="petal duration;petal atypical quantity;petal quantity;petal coloration;petal coloration;petal coloration;petal coloration;petal coloration;petal coloration;petal size;petal size;petal quantity;upper petal size;other character;other character">petals caducous [persistent], [0 or] (2–) 6, purple, rose-purple, rose, or pink, subequal or unequal, sometimes 2 upper petals larger or of different color than others;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s12" data-properties="nectary presence">nectary present at base of ovary;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s13" data-properties="sepal stamen atypical quantity;sepal stamen quantity;sepal stamen position;sepal stamen variability;sepal stamen quantity;stamen height or length or size;stamen position">stamens (5–) 11, deeply included or equal to surpassing sinus of sepals, 2 stamens usually shorter, more deeply inserted than others;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s14" data-properties="ovary architecture or structure in adjective form">ovary 2-locular;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s15" data-properties="placenta shape">placenta elongate;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s16" data-properties="septum size;thread width;thread quantity;locule size">septa reduced to thin threads, 1 locule reduced;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s17" data-properties="style size">style slender;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s18" data-properties="stigma shape;stigma shape;stigma shape">stigma capitate to punctiform.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s19" data-properties="wall width;wall condition or texture;slit dehiscence;placenta position;seed position"><b>Fruits </b>capsules, walls thin and dry, dehiscence by longitudinal complementary slits in wall and floral-tube, placenta and seeds ultimately exserted.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s20" data-properties="seed atypical quantity;seed quantity;seed shape;seed shape;seed shape;seed shape;seed shape;seed shape"><b>Seeds </b>3–13 (–20) [–100+], orbiculate, suborbiculate, oblong, or elliptic in outline;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s21" data-properties="cotyledon shape">cotyledons ± complanate.</span><!--

-->{{Treatment/Body
|distribution=North America;Mexico;West Indies;Central America;South America;Pacific Islands;Australia
|discussion=<p>Species ca. 240 (6 in the flora).</p><!--
--><p>The seeds of Cuphea store oils composed of medium-chain fatty acids that are widely used in the manufacture of soaps and detergents, in specialized food products, and in medicine. The endemic C. viscosissima is under development as a domestic source of the fatty acids that traditionally have been obtained from imported palm oils. Other species are cultivated as annual garden plants, and new hybrids and cultivars appear yearly in the nursery trade. Among the most popular cultivated species are: C. calophylla Chamisso & Schlechtendal and C. hyssopifolia Kunth, both sold under the name Mexican heather and identified by their small, tubular flowers with six purple petals; C. ignea A. de Candolle, the cigar flower or firecracker plant, a species with trailing stems and elongate, red flowers with black and white tips; and C. llavea Lexarza, marketed as ‘Tiny Mice’ or ‘Bat-Faced Cuphea,’ which has two large, red petals often with a black spot at the base, and purple trichomes filling the opening of the floral tube. The purple-petalled C. procumbens Ortega (firefly cuphea) and hybrids of C. procumbens with C. llavea are also popular flowering annuals. Garden escapes of C. procumbens account for reports in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and South Carolina; the species does not appear to be naturalized anywhere in the flora area. All the cultivated species named above are native to Mexico.</p>
|tables=
|references=
}}<!--

--><div class="treatment-key">
==Key==
<div class="treatment-key-group">
  
{| class="wikitable fna-keytable"
|-id=key-0-1
|1
|Leaves 3- or 4-whorled mid stem; flowers opposite or 3- or 4-whorled; pedicels 4–25 mm.
|[[Cuphea aspera|Cuphea aspera]]
|-id=key-0-1
|1
|Leaves opposite; flowers alternate; pedicels 0–6 mm.
|[[#key-0-2| > 2]]
|-id=key-0-2
|2
|Stamens deeply included, extending 2/3 distance to sinus of sepals; floral tube 4–6 mm.
|[[Cuphea carthagenensis|Cuphea carthagenensis]]
|-id=key-0-2
|2
|Stamens reaching or surpassing sinus of sepals; floral tube 5–12 mm.
|[[#key-0-3| > 3]]
|-id=key-0-3
|3
|Sepals equal; leaves sessile or subsessile, petiole 0–2 mm; seeds 1.5–2 mm.
|[[#key-0-4| > 4]]
|-id=key-0-4
|4
|Floral tube bases rounded; seed margins rounded.
|[[Cuphea glutinosa|Cuphea glutinosa]]
|-id=key-0-4
|4
|Floral tube bases descending spurs; seed margins flattened, thin.
|[[Cuphea strigulosa|Cuphea strigulosa]]
|-id=key-0-3
|3
|Sepals unequal, adaxialmost longer; leaves petiolate (at least proximally), petiole (1–)2–15(–20) mm; seeds 2–2.8 mm.
|[[#key-0-5| > 5]]
|-id=key-0-5
|5
|Leaf blade bases attenuate; seeds 7–10; upper petals 3–6 mm.
|[[Cuphea viscosissima|Cuphea viscosissima]]
|-id=key-0-5
|5
|Leaf blade bases rounded to cuneate; seeds 3–6; upper petals 1–2 mm.
|[[Cuphea wrightii|Cuphea wrightii]]
|}
</div></div><!--

-->{{#Taxon:
name=Cuphea
|author=Shirley A. Graham
|authority=P. Browne
|rank=genus
|parent rank=family
|synonyms=Parsonsia
|basionyms=
|family=Lythraceae
|distribution=North America;Mexico;West Indies;Central America;South America;Pacific Islands;Australia
|reference=None
|publication title=Civ. Nat. Hist. Jamaica,
|publication year=1756
|special status=
|source xml=
|genus=Cuphea
|base shape=rounded;attenuate
|blade arrangement or course or shape=linear
|blade arrangement or shape=elliptic
|blade shape=oblong;ovate;lanceolate
|cotyledon shape=complanate
|epicalyx segment height or length or size=shorter
|floral-tube architecture or shape=12-ribbed;spurred
|floral-tube position=perigynous
|floral-tube shape=rounded;cylindrical
|flower architecture=zygomorphic;pedicellate;sessile
|herb coating=glandular-viscid
|herb duration=perennial;annual
|herb growth form or habitat=terrestrial
|herb some measurement=1dm;10dm
|indument architecture=eglandular
|inflorescence architecture=bracteate;leafy
|inflorescence development=indeterminate
|inflorescence position=axillary;terminal
|inner surface pubescence=glabrous;villous
|leaf architecture=petiolate;subsessile;petiolate;subsessile;sessile
|leaf arrangement=opposite;4-whorled;3-whorled;opposite
|locule size=reduced
|nectary presence=absent
|other character=color;color
|ovary architecture or structure in adjective form=2-locular
|petal atypical quantity=2;6
|petal coloration=pink;rose;pink;rose;rose-purple;purple
|petal duration=caducous
|petal quantity=2;6
|petal size=unequal;subequal
|placenta position=exserted
|placenta shape=elongate
|raceme quantity=1
|seed atypical quantity=13;20
|seed position=exserted
|seed quantity=3;13
|seed shape=elliptic;oblong;elliptic;oblong;suborbiculate;orbiculate
|sepal quantity=0;1/4
|sepal stamen atypical quantity=5;11
|sepal stamen position=included
|sepal stamen quantity=2;11
|sepal stamen variability=equal
|septum size=reduced
|slit dehiscence=longitudinal
|stamen height or length or size=shorter
|stamen position=more deeply inserted
|stem architecture=unbranched;branched
|stem orientation=spreading;decumbent;spreading;decumbent;erect
|stigma shape=capitate;punctiform
|style size=slender
|surface pubescence or relief=scabrous
|thread quantity=1
|thread width=thin
|trichome coloration=red-purple;white;red-purple;white;colorless
|upper petal size=larger
|wall condition or texture=dry
|wall width=thin
}}<!--

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