CUPHEAS 2II 
CUPHEAS 
Natural Order LYTHRARIEZ. Genus Cuphea 
CupHEA (Greek, kyphos, curved, from the shape of the flower). A genus 
comprising about a hundred greenhouse herbs, often viscid. Leaves oval 
or lance-shaped, entire, opposite, rarely whorled. Flowers axillary, 
scarlet, purple, or white, consisting of a long curved calyx-tube, which is 
brightly coloured, produced below in a short rounded spur, and above 
into six primary teeth with sometimes six smaller ones. The six petals, 
too, are small, and sometimes absent altogether. There should be twelve 
stamens, to agree in number with the other parts, but the twelfth one 
_ has been suppressed in development. Capsule two-celled, with long slender 
style. The species are natives of Tropical and Sub-tropical America. 
Cuphea viscosissima, the stickiest of Cupheas, was 
introduced from North America in 1776; C. procumbens 
from Mexico in 1816, C. Melvillei from Guiana in 1823, C. miniata from 
Mexico in 1843, C. ignea, also from Mexico, in 1845. Among the more 
recent introductions may be mentioned C. hookeriana (1877) and C. 
Zimapant (1878), both from Mexico. 
CUPHEA CYANEA (blue). Stems 2 feet high. Leaves 
heart-shaped, hairy. Flower: calyx-tube orange, petals 
two, small, purple; July. Branches and calyx bristly and sticky. 
Native of the Andes. 
C. HOOKERIANA (Hooker's). Stems 2 to 3 feet, shrubby. Leaves 
lance-shaped. Flowers vermilion and orange, in dense panicles; June 
an 
C. IGNEA (fiery). Stems 1 foot. Leaves smooth, lance-shaped. 
Flowers solitary, without petals; calyx-tube bright scarlet, with black 
and white expanded lips; June to August. Plate 102. Known in 
gardens as C. platycentra. 
C. LANCEOLATA (lance-shaped). Stems ascending, 18 inches, covered 
with sticky brown hairs. Leaves broad lance-shaped, blunt, hairy. 
Flowers bluish in a spike-like, somewhat one-sided raceme; July. 
Biennial. 
C. MINIATA (red). Stems 2 feet. Leaves oval, pointed, covered with 
_ white bristles. Flowers solitary, pale vermilion; June to September. 
C. ZIMAPANI (Zimapan’s). Stems 2 feet high. Leaves lance-shaped. 
Flowers very dark purple; August and September. 
- History. 
Principal Species. 
