Common Names
Common Names in English:
Hummingbird Plant, Rabbit Ears
Description
Family Acanthaceae
The Acanthaceae are mostly herbs or shrubs comprising about 250 genera and 2,500 species, including twining forms. The leaves are simple , opposite and decussate; stipules are lacking. The flowers are bisexual , zygomorphic, and usually are associated with conspicuous , often brightly colored bracts. The calyx is usually deeply 4-5 lobed or sometimes is highly reduced with more numerous minute teeth. The corolla is sympetalous , usually 5-merous, mostly zygomorphic, and commonly 2 lipped. The androecium usually consists of 4 didynamous stamens or only 2 stamens adnate to the corolla tube or epigynous zone, alternate with the lobes . The gynoecium consists of a single compound pistil of 2 carpels, a single style , and a superior ovary with 2 locules, each with usually 2-10 axile ovules in one or two collateral vertical tiers . An annular nectary disk is usually found around the base of the ovary. The fruit is commonly an elastically dehiscent loculicidal capsule. The seed stalk or funiculus of each seed is modified into a hook shaped jaculator or retinaculum that functions in flinging out the seeds during dehiscence. -- Gerald Carr.
Physical Description
Flowers: Bloom Period: April, May, June, July, August. • Flower Color: orange
Size/Age/Growth
Size: 4-6' tall.
Biology
Growth
Soil: Minimum pH: 6.1 • Maximum pH: 6.5
Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade.
Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11. (map)
Taxonomy
- Domain:
Eukaryota
(
)
- Whittaker & Margulis,1978
- Kingdom:
Plantae
()
- Haeckel, 1866
- Plants
- Subkingdom:
Viridaeplantae
()
- Cavalier-Smith, 1981
- Phylum:
Tracheophyta
()
- Sinnott, 1935 ex Cavalier-Smith, 1998
- Vascular Plants
- Subphylum:
euphyllophytina
()
- Infraphylum:
radiatopses
()
- kenrick & crane, 1997
- Class:
Magnoliopsida
()
- Brongniart, 1843
- Dicotyledons
- Subclass:
Lamiidae
()
- Takhtajan ex Reveal, 1992
- Superorder:
Lamianae
()
- Takhtajan, 1967
- Order:
Scrophulariales
()
- Lindley, 1833
- Family:
Acanthaceae
()
- Durande, 1782, nom. cons.
- Acanthus Family
- Genus:
Ruttya
()
- Harvey, 1842
- Specific epithet:
fruticosa
- Cultivar:
Orange
- Botanical name: - Ruttya fruticosa 'Orange'
- Cultivar:
Orange
- Specific epithet:
fruticosa
- Genus:
Ruttya
(
- Family:
Acanthaceae
(
- Order:
Scrophulariales
(
- Superorder:
Lamianae
(
- Subclass:
Lamiidae
(
- Class:
Magnoliopsida
(
- Infraphylum:
radiatopses
(
- Subphylum:
euphyllophytina
(
- Phylum:
Tracheophyta
(
- Subkingdom:
Viridaeplantae
(
- Kingdom:
Plantae
(
Similar Species
Members of the genus Ruttya
There are approximately 9 species in this genus:
R. bernieri · R. fragrans · R. fruiticosa · R. fruticosa (Hummingbird Plant) · R. fruticosa 'Orange' (Hummingbird Plant) · R. fruticosa 'Scholesii' · R. ovata · R. speciosa · R. tricolor
More Info
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- Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
- Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
- Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books
Notes
Contributors
- Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed November 1, 2006.
Identifiers
- Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 955512
