Common Name: Mexican flame vine
Mexican flame vine is native to Mexico and is much valued as an ornamental fast growing vine. It is woody glabrous vine and grows to around 6 m. The simple leaves are arranged in an alternate manner. The leaf shape is narrow tapering-almost triangular. The base is truncate or slightly cordate. The leaf tapers to a point at the apex. The leaf stalk and leaf measure around 1.6 cm and 5.2 cm respectively. The leaf margin is dentate, the dentate end in a stiff tip. The capitulate inflorescence is in the form of an axillary corymbiform cyme. The flowers are seen in clusters, the petals are orange in color. They become bright red as they age. The flower stalk measure around 4 cm; the flower stalk has some brown coiled appendages which measure around 3 mm; the flower across measure around 3.5 cm. At the outer rim of the flower head around 10 ray florets and are seen with dark orange petals. The inflorescence is supported by rows of green colored bracts. Mexican flame vine is often planted in Tamilnadu as an ornamental vine.
