{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox |image = Dicliptera suberecta River of Life Church 240 Hamilton Rd Chermside P1070983.jpg |genus = Dicliptera |species = squarrosa |authority = [[Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck|Nees]] (1847) |synonyms = {{collapsible list|bullets=true |title={{small|Synonymy}} |''Diapedium pohlianum'' {{small|(Nees) Kuntze (1891)}} |''Diapedium sericeum'' {{small|(Nees) Kuntze (1891)}} |''Diapedium squarrosum'' {{small|(Nees) Kuntze (1891)}} |''Diapedium tweedieanum'' {{small|(Nees) Kuntze (1891)}} |''Dicliptera deltica'' {{small|Bridar. (1948)}} |''Dicliptera lutea'' {{small|Bridar. (1948)}} |''Dicliptera pohliana'' {{small|Nees (1847)}} |''Dicliptera sericea'' {{small|Nees (1847)}} |''Dicliptera squarrosa'' var. ''hirsuta'' {{small|Nees (1847)}} |''Dicliptera suberecta'' {{small|(André) Bremek. (1943)}} |''Dicliptera tweedieana'' {{small|Nees (1847)}} |''Dicliptera tweedieana'' f. ''flaviflora'' {{small|Stuck. ex Seckt (1930)}} |''Dicliptera tweedieana'' var. ''microphylla'' {{small|Nees (1847)}} |''Jacobinia suberecta'' {{small|André (1900)}} |''Justicia abnormis'' {{small|Pohl ex Nees (1847)}} }} |synonyms_ref = <ref name = powo>[https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:47698-1 ''Dicliptera squarrosa'' Nees]. ''[[Plants of the World Online]]''. Retrieved 3 July 2024.</ref> }} '''''Dicliptera squarrosa''''', also known as '''firecracker plant''' and '''Hummingbird plant''', is a species of [[flowering plant]] in the acanthus family, [[Acanthaceae]]. A scrambling [[subshrub]], it is native to central [[South America]].<ref name = ces>[https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/dicliptera-squarrosa/ Dicliptera squarrosa]. ''[[NC State University]]''. Retrieved 24 November 2025.</ref><ref name = mbg>[https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=293032&isprofile=0&c Dicliptera squarrosa]. ''[[Missouri Botanical Garden]]''. Retrieved 24 November 2025.</ref>
==Description== [[File:Dicliptera squarrosa in Jardin des plantes de Montpellier 01.jpg|thumb|left|Flowers up close]] It is a [[drought tolerant]], [[subshrub]] approximately 60 cm in height and a width of 45 cm, with an upright to drooping habit, and thin stems. The opposite, hairy leaves are 4 to 8 cm long, oval, dull or [[velvet]]y medium green, and covered with grey down.<ref name = ces/>
The vibrant reddish-orange flowers, 2 to 4 cm long, are borne in axillary and terminal clusters, which blossom throughout the summer and into autumn. In addition to butterflies, its flowers attract [[hummingbird]]s, hence its common name.<ref name = ces/>
===Name=== The genus name is from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''diklis'' which means double-folding, and 'pteron' meaning wing, denotating the two wing-like divisions in the [[Capsule (fruit)|capsule]]. The species name means with parts spreading or bent at the extremities. This plant is cited in [[Flora Brasiliensis]] by [[Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius]].<ref name = ces/>
==Distribution== [[File:Dicliptera suberecta leaf cluster - HNT.jpg|thumb|Leaf close up]] It is native to Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina, Uruguay, and southern, southeastern, and west-central [[Brazil]],<ref name = powo/> including the [[Cerrado]] [[ecoregion]] of Brazil. It grows primarily in the seasonally [[Tropical savanna climate|dry tropical biome]]. In [[Costa Rica]], it flowers during the dry season (summer) at altitudes of 1630 m above sea level.<ref name = ces/>
==Cultivation== The Hummingbird plant is a tender, herbaceous [[perennial]] that can easily grow in well-drained soils such as [[loam]] and [[silt]] under full sun. Tolerating mild shade and drought, it is winter hardy to Zones 8-10 in the US, which can be protected with [[mulch]] cover. It can tolerate temperatures down to {{convert|-17.7|C|0}} and may also be grown as an [[Annual plant|annual]]. It may be grown in containers or hanging baskets. [[Cutting (plant)|Cutting]]s can be taken and [[overwinter]]ed indoors.<ref name = ces/><ref name = mbg/>
==References== {{Reflist}} == External links == * {{in lang|pt}} [http://florabrasiliensis.cria.org.br/search?taxon_id=21313 Flora Brasiliensis: ''Dicliptera sericea'']
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15316809|from2=Q3016305}}
[[Category:Dicliptera|squarrosa]] [[Category:Flora of Northeast Argentina]] [[Category:Flora of Northwest Argentina]] [[Category:Flora of Bolivia]] [[Category:Flora of South Brazil]] [[Category:Flora of Southeast Brazil]] [[Category:Flora of West-Central Brazil]] [[Category:Flora of Paraguay]] [[Category:Flora of Peru]] [[Category:Flora of Uruguay]] [[Category:Flora of the Cerrado]] [[Category:Plants described in 1847]] [[Category:Taxa named by Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck]]