How to identify Bat-faced cuphea (Cuphea llavea)
Bat-faced cuphea features a striking visual allure with its one-inch-long, purple-hued calyx wrapped in fine hairs. The vibrant red petals protrude upward, creating a whimsical resemblance to a bat's face. Frequent flowering begins in late spring and persists until the touch of frost, with the blooms congregating in clusters within the leaf axils. The presence of multiple flower clusters gives bat-faced cuphea a continuous display of vivid color and distinctive form.
Lifespan: Perennial
Plant Type: Shrub
Leaf Type: Semi-evergreen
Purple-hued calyx with fine hairs, creating a distinct visual allure.
Upward-facing red petals form a bat-like face, unique to bat-faced cuphea.
Ovate leaves, up to 3 inches (7.6 cm) long, with a hairy texture.
Reddish-green stem with branching pattern, pairs of branches at nodes.
Frequent flowering in clusters within leaf axils, providing continuous vivid color display.
Bat-faced cuphea leaves are ovate and can grow up to 3 inches (7.6 cm) long. They are thick and dark green in color, with a hairy texture. The leaves feature a pointed apex and are characterized by a pronounced veining pattern. These leaves are notably sturdy and are covered with fine hairs, which give them a slightly fuzzy appearance. The ovate shape, pointed tips, and distinct texture make them easily identifiable.
The flowers of bat-faced cuphea are distinctive with their 1-inch (2.5 cm) long, dark purple, hairy calyx. They feature two upward-facing red petals that create a unique bat-like face appearance. These striking flowers emerge from the axils of leaves, offering a visually intriguing contrast with their vibrant colors and textured surface. They are a key identifier for the plant, making bat-faced cuphea easily recognizable during its blooming period.
The stem of bat-faced cuphea is characterized by its reddish-green hue, creating a striking appearance. It possesses a smooth texture with a moderate thickness, typically ranging from 0.2 to 0.4 inches (0.5 to 1 cm) in diameter. The stem shows a branching pattern that is often opposite, with pairs of branches emerging at each node. These branches can extend up to 1 foot (30 cm) in length. This characteristic stem structure aids in supporting the plant's overall growth and form.
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Scientific Classification of Bat-faced cuphea
