Russelia Explained
Russelia is a genus of flowering plants in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. It is sometimes placed in the families Scrophulariaceae or Veronicaceae. The name honours Scottish naturalist Alexander Russell (1715–1768).[1] Members of the genus are commonly known as firecracker plants or coralblows. Russelia species grow in many parts of the world and are mildly drought resistant.
Russelia equisetiformis and Russelia sarmentosa are commonly used to hide unattractive retaining walls or fences because they grow quickly and have dense foliage. Growing to a maximum height of 1.8m (05.9feet), they are shrubs which will tolerate full sun to partial shade. As evergreens they bloom for most of the year.
Due to their attractively coloured flowers, these bushes attract birds and insects (such as bees) that feed on flower nectar.
Species
, Plants of the World Online recognises the following species:
- Russelia acuminata
- Russelia campechiana
- Russelia chiapensis
- Russelia coccinea
- Russelia contrerasii
- Russelia conzattii
- Russelia cora
- Russelia cuneata
- Russelia equisetiformis - Fountainbush, coral plant
- Russelia floribunda
- Russelia furfuracea
- Russelia grandidentata
- Russelia hintonii
- Russelia iltisneeana
- Russelia jaliscensis
- Russelia laciniata
- Russelia lanceifolia
- Russelia leptopoda
- Russelia longifolia
- Russelia longipedunculata
- Russelia longisepala
- Russelia maculosa
- Russelia manantlana
- Russelia multiflora
| - Russelia obtusata
- Russelia parvifolia
- Russelia polyedra
- Russelia pringlei
- Russelia pubescens
- Russelia purpusii
- Russelia retrorsa
- Russelia rotundifolia
- Russelia rugosa
- Russelia sarmentosa
- Russelia sonorensis
- Russelia staleyae
- Russelia standleyi
- Russelia steyermarkii
- Russelia syringifolia
- Russelia tehuana
- Russelia tenuis
- Russelia tepicensis
- Russelia teres
- Russelia ternifolia
- Russelia tetraptera
- Russelia verticillata
- Russelia villosa
- Russelia worthingtonii
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Sources
Carlson. Margery. 1957. Monograph of the Genus Russelia (Scrophulariacae). Fieldiana Botany. 29. 4. 244–285. 10.5962/bhl.title.2398. October 31, 2017. free.
External links
Notes and References
- Book: Quattrocchi, Umberto . CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology . IV R-Z . 2000 . Taylor & Francis US . 978-0-8493-2678-3 . 2354.
