English: Cardinal flower; Cardinal's guard; Fire spike.
Name: Odontonema refers to the toothed filaments of the stamen, nema meaning "thread" and odonto "toothed".
Clades:
Acanthaceae.
Region: Central America; naturalised in numerous countries, New Zealand, Australia, Rarotonga, Mangaia, Cook Islands.
Content: phytosterols and flavonoids.
Use: ornamental garden plant.
BotanyShrub; upright; annual; up to 2 m, or 3 m tall.
Leaves: elliptical; glossy; opposite; 10 cm by 20 cm; petiole 2 cm.
Inflorescence: terminal spikes.
Flowers: waxy red to burgundy; 30 mm long; petals 5 mm; blooms in summer and autumn.