Scarlet jungle flame
Scarlet jungle flame (Ixora coccinea) is native to South and Southeast Asia, where it occurs naturally from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to Indochina.
The genus Ixora belongs to the coffee family (Rubiaceae), a large plant family that also includes coffee (Coffea) and gardenia. In the tropics, Scarlet jungle flame flowers throughout the year, and in the Tropical House it can be seen in bloom during most of the year.
What appears at first glance to be a single large flower is actually an inflorescence composed of many small flowers. Each flower is tubular with four petals, and together they form dense, spherical or slightly domed flower clusters. Because of its brightly coloured flowers and long flowering season, Java flame has become a popular ornamental plant in tropical gardens around the world. In nature, the nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Butterflies in the Greenhouses are particularly fond of the plant as well.
The name Ixora is believed to be derived from a Sanskrit name associated with the Hindu god Shiva. In India, the flowers are used in religious ceremonies and as temple offerings.
Facts
Location in the Greenhouses: The Tropical House
danish name: Java-ildkugle
Scientific name: Ixora coccinea
Family: Coffee family / Rubiaceae)
Native range: South and Southeast Asia