View source for Hamelia patens

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Firebush
| image = Hamelia patens.jpg
| image_width = 200px
| image_caption = Habitus
| status = NE
| status_system = iucn3.1
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| subclassis = [[Asteridae]]
| unranked_ordo = [[Euasterids I]]
| ordo = [[Gentianales]]
| familia = [[Rubiaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Hamelia]]''
| species = '''''H. patens'''''
| binomial = ''Hamelia patens''
| binomial_authority = [[Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin|Jacq.]]
| synonyms =
''Hamelia erecta'' <small>Jacq.</small><br />
''Hamelia nodosa'' <small>M. Martens & Galeotti</small>
}}

'''''Hamelia patens''''' ('''Firebush''', '''hummingbird bush''', '''scarlet bush''' or "redhead") is a large perennial shrub or small tree from [[subtropical]] and [[tropical]] [[America]]. The Firebush has a native range that runs from [[Texas]] in southern United States to as far south as [[Argentina]].<ref>USDA (2006)</ref>

[[Image:Unknown red flower belize.jpg|thumb|left|Flowers]]
It has orangish-red tubular flowers, which recruit hummingbirds and butterflies for pollination<ref name=welch2003>Welch (2003)</ref>. Their [[corolla]] varies much in length, making it attractive to a wide range of pollinators<ref>Fenster (1991)</ref>. The fruit is a small dark red [[berry]]{{Verify source|date=September 2007}}<!-- berry, drupe, ...? -->. 

Despite its somewhat scraggy appearance, this is a valuable garden tree in warmer climates and even in temperate ones, as long as the soil remains above freezing<ref name=welch2003 />. Hummingbirds attracted by its flowers and other birds feeding on the fruit will also forage on small insects found in the vicinity, helping to keep down [[pest (organism)|pest]]s. The fruit have an refreshing, acidic taste and besides being much liked by some [[birds]], they are also edible for humans; in Mexico, they are made into a fermented drink. 

Also, the plants are used in [[folk medicine]] against a range of ailments. A number of active compounds have been found in firebush<ref>Including [[maruquine]] and [[isomaruquine]], [[pteropodine]] and [[isopteropodine]], [[palmirine]], [[rumberine]], [[seneciophylline]] and [[stigmastene|stigmast-4-ene-3,6-dione]]. The bark contains significant amounts of [[tannin]]s. See Duke (2007).</ref>, but no scientific study of its medical usefulness has been conducted yet.

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{aut|Duke, Jim}} (2007): [http://sun.ars-grin.gov:8080/npgspub/xsql/duke/plantdisp.xsql?taxon=458 Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases - ''Hamelia patens'']. Retrieved 2007-SEP-19.
* {{aut|Fenster, Charles B.}} (1991): Selection on Floral Morphology by Hummingbirds. ''Biotropica'' '''23'''(1): 98-101. <small>{{doi|10.2307/2388696}}</small> (First page image)
* {{aut|United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)}} (2006): [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?18240 Germplasm Resources Information Network - ''Hamelia patens'']. Version of 2006-AUG-04. Retrieved 2007-SEP-19.
* {{aut|Welch, Willam C.}} (2003): [http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/newsletters/hortupdate/jun03/art5jun.html Horticulture Update - Firebush (''Hamelia patens'')]. Version of June 2003. Retrieved 2007-SEP-19.


[[Category:Rubiaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of Mexico]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
{{WikiDoc Sources}}