Ixora coccinea L.

Family: Rubiaceae

Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Gentianales > Rubiaceae > Ixora > Ixora coccinea L.

Common name [English]: Jungle flame, Needle flower

Vernacular name [Malayalam]: തെച്ചി

Nativity: W. & S. India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh to Indo-China.

Habitat: Plains to Low Altitude, Cultivated

Description: Bushy shrubs, spreading by root sprouts. Leaves opposite, 6-10 x 2.5-3 cm, elliptic to oblong, shortly acute at apex, round to slightly cordate at base, sessile, greenish on drying. Corymbs 5-8 cm across; peduncle and pedicels short. Calyx tube 0.18-0.2 cm long, puberulous without; lobes minute. Corolla scarlet; tube 3-3.5 cm long, puberulous without; lobes 0.8-1 x 0.4-0.5 cm. Stamens attached at throat; anthers 0.3-0.35 cm long. Ovary 0.1-0.2 cm across; style 3-3.5 cm long, exserted. Berry 0.6-0.8 cm diam., didymous; seeds 2, globose, 0.3-0.4 cm diameter.

Flowering and Fruiting: Throughout the year

Uses: Ayurveda, Folk medicine, Siddha.

Cultivation: Ornamental, Wild

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org