Firecracker-flower
Crossandra infundibuliformis
Its seed pods explode with a distinctive cracking sound when exposed to moisture, throwing seeds several feet away to propagate.
- Scientific name
- Crossandra infundibuliformis
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Lamiales › Acanthaceae › Crossandra
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Tropical forest understories, shady hillsides, and cultivated gardens.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis)
- Range
- India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, Central America
- Size
- 30-90 cm (1-3 feet) tall
- Lifespan
- 2-5 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation in native regions and competition from invasive understory weeds.
- Safe to approach?
- This plant is entirely harmless and safe to touch. You can approach closely to admire its vibrant orange blossoms. If you find dry, ripe seed pods, placing a drop of water on them will cause them to pop open harmlessly in your hand.
Crossandra infundibuliformis ( firecracker flower ), is a species of flowering plant in the family Acanthaceae, native to southern India and Sri Lanka.
Photo: Greg III Espera, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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