Crossandra infundibuliformis

Crossandra infundibuliformis (L.) Nees

Common Names: Fire Cracker Flower

Family: Acanthaceae

Habit: Crossandra infundibuliformis grows as an herb to small shrub to 1 m in height. Stems squarish. The leaves are arranged in whorls of 4,.each up to 12 cm in length and 4 cm wide, ovate to lanceolate with an acute leaf apex. The leaves are pubescent or glabrous and shiny.

The complete, perfect, zygomorphic flowers are arranged in terminal pubescent spikes Each flower subtended by a pubescent bract. The calyx has 5, green unfused, linear, sepals that are slightly fused at their base.  The corolla has 5, fused, salmon orange, red, or yellow petals. There are 4 stamens fused to the corolla tube.  The superior ovary has 2 locules and numerous ovules. The fruit is a capsule at maturity.

Habitat: Crossandra infundibuliformis grows in Human- Altered environments (yards and gardens).

Distribution: Crossandra infundibuliformis is NOT native to the Lucayan Archipelago.  It is native to the Indian subcontinent and eastern Africa but is now global as an ornamental.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Crossandra infundibuliformis is not known to be used medicinally in the Lucayan Archipelago.

It is grown as an ornamental.