Fire-flame bush
Woodfordia fruticosa

Family: Lythraceae

What it is like

A shrub. It has many branches. It can grow up to 5-7 m tall. It has many branches. The bark is reddish-brown and peels off in strips. The new shoots and leaves have black dots and circles of glands. The leaves are opposite or in rings of three and are simple. They have a white hairy covering. There are 1-17 flowers in a group on short shoots. These are in the axils of leaves. The flowers are large. They are red-orange. The fruit is a dry irregular capsule. There are many smooth, small brown seeds.

There are 2 Woodfordia species. It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in Garhwal Himalayas. It grows in less humid and dry regions. It grows from sea level to 800 m altitude in Madagascar. It grows up to 1,500 m in the Himalayas. It is often along streams and rivers. It grows best in a sandy loam. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Bhutan, China, East Africa, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand

How it is used for food

The flowers are sucked for their nectar. They are also cooked as a vegetable. The fruit are eaten raw when ripe. The young shoots are eaten.

The nectar is especially sucked by children.

Edible parts

Flowers - nectar, flowers, fruit, shoots, leaves, gum

How it is grown

Plants are usually grown using cuttings. The plant can be pruned back and will regrow well.

Its other names

Local names

Agnijwala, Dahai, Dawai, Dawi, Dhai-phul, Dhai, Dhaiphal, Dhairee, Dhairo, Dhangera, Dhataki, Dhatuki, Dhau, Dhaula, Dhaura, Dhauri, Dhavdi, Dhavi, Dhawai, Dhawatha, Dhawi, Dhayati, Dhayero, Dhayti, Dhenti, Dowari, Gaddaisinka, Gulbaha, Gul bahar, Gul, Harwari, Icha, Jargi, Jatiko, Lambohenza, Panle, Panswe, Patta-gyi, Phuldawai, Phulsatti, Santha, Serinji, Shiranjitea, Surteli, Tamrapushpi, Tawi, Thai, Thawi, Yet-kyi, Zhubuli

Synonyms

Lythrum fruticosum Linn.; Griselia punctata Buch.-Ham. ex Smith; Griselia tomentosa Roxb.; Lythrum hunteri Candolle; Woodfordia floribunda Salisb.;