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Aeschynanthus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aeschynanthus
Aeschynanthus pulcher with unopened buds emerging from calyces
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Gesneriaceae
Subfamily: Didymocarpoideae
Genus: Aeschynanthus
Jack (1823)
Species[1]

185; see text

Synonyms[1]
  • Euthamnus Schltr. (1923)
  • Micraeschynanthus Ridl. (1925)
  • Oxychlamys Schltr. (1923)
  • Rheitrophyllum Hassk. (1842)
  • Trichosporum D.Don (1822)

Aeschynanthus is a genus of about 150 species of evergreen subtropical and tropical plants in the family Gesneriaceae. They are usually trailing epiphytes with brightly colored flowers that are pollinated by sunbirds. The genus name comes from a contraction of aischuno (to be ashamed) and anthos (flower).[2] The common name for some species is lipstick plant, which comes from the appearance of the developing buds emerging from the calyces.

The genus contains a large variety of plants with differing features. Some have thick, waxy cuticles while others have much softer leaves. Species such as A. speciosus are large where A. micranthus is much smaller and trailing. Several species are valued in temperate climates as houseplants, notably A. longicaulis, A. pulcher and A. radicans.[3]

Cultivation

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Aeschynanthus pulcher
Aeschynanthus perrottetii

They require good lighting and semi-moist, well-drained soil conditions to grow, though they vary and some require more moist soil. They also prefer warm and humid conditions.[citation needed]

Species

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A full list of the accepted species and their synonyms can be found in the Smithsonian Institution's World Checklist of Gesneriaceae.[citation needed]

Recently described species include:

References

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  1. ^ a b Aeschynanthus Jack. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  2. ^ Eggli, Urs; Newton, Leonard E. (2004). Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer. p. 4. ISBN 978-3-540-00489-9. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  3. ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1-4053-3296-5.
  4. ^ Malabrigo, Pastor L.; Tobias, Adriane B.; Thorogood, Chris J.; Mansibang, Jayson A. (2025). "Aeschynanthus pentatrichomatus (Gesneriaceae), a new species of lipstick vine from the Banao Protected Landscape of Luzon Island in the Philippines". Nordic Journal of Botany. 2025 (3). doi:10.1111/njb.04580. ISSN 0107-055X.
  5. ^ Oxford, University of. "Botanists name beautiful new species of 'lipstick vine' from the Philippine rainforest". phys.org. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
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