Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Cuphea micropetala H.B. & K

Frost tender, branched sub-shrub with crowded lance-shaped leaves, to 12cm long, and leafy racemes bearing scarlet, white and red flowers, yellowish at the apex, with minute petals in summer.  To 90cm.  [RHSD, Hortus].

Horticultural & Botanical History

Cuphea micropetala was introduced to Britain in 1824.  [JD].  Don.  ‘Certainly the finest of all the known species of the numerous genus of Cuphea, with singularly large coloured calyces, for there are no petals; now well known in our gardens as a hardy green-house plant, and thriving in the summer in the open border, under the name of C. eminens, by which appellation it was sent from the extensive horticultural establishment of Mr. Linden; but it is assuredly the C. Jorullensis - a much older name – of Humboldt, native of Mexico (first detected, as its name implies, on the volcanic mountain of Jorullo).’  [BM t.5232/1861].  IH pl.284/1861.

History at Camden Park

Listed only in the 1857 catalogue [T.358/1857].

Notes

Published Mar 11, 2009 - 04:27 PM | Last updated Mar 05, 2010 - 01:37 PM

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Shown are the lance-shaped leaves and red flowers, yellowish at the apex. Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.5232, 1861.

Cuphea micropetala H.B. & K | BM t.5232/1861 | BHL

Family Lythraceae
Category
Region of origin

Mexico
Synonyms
  • Cuphea tricolor Moc. & Sessé ex DC.
  • Cuphea jorullensis Hook.
Common Name
Name in the Camden Park Record

Cuphea tricolor 
Confidence level high