SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 12855.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "12855" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

tropical waxweed

Scientific Name: Cuphea aspera

Family: Lythraceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Tropical Waxweed (Cuphea aspera)

Cuphea aspera, also known as tropical waxweed or Chapman's waxweed, is a flowering plant belonging to the loosestrife family (Lythraceae). It is native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Americas.

Considerations for Pets

  • The common name "waxweed" comes from the waxy or sticky feel of the upper stems, flower stalks, and flower tubes of the species.
  • The plant produces seeds that may be of interest to animals.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Cuphea aspera Chapm.
  • Family: Lythraceae (loosestrife family)
  • Rank: Species
  • Synonyms/Related Species:
    • Cuphea aequipetala (sometimes considered the same as Cuphea aspera)
    • Cuphea carthagenensis (Colombian waxweed)
    • Cuphea strigulosa (Stiffhair Waxweed)

Common Names

  • Tropical Waxweed
  • Chapman's Waxweed
  • Colombian Waxweed (often used for Cuphea carthagenensis)
  • Stiffhair Waxweed (used for Cuphea strigulosa)
  • Hierba del cncer (Spanish, for Cuphea aequipetala)

Distribution and Habitat

Cuphea aspera and related species within the Cuphea genus are native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of the Americas, including:

  • Brazil
  • Colombia
  • Ecuador
  • Peru
  • West Indies
  • Mexico
  • Honduras
  • Florida, USA
  • Georgia, USA

Morphological Characteristics

  • Cuphea is a genus containing about 260 species of annual and perennial flowering plants or evergreen shrubs.
  • Colombian waxweed (Cuphea carthagenensis) is described as a short-lived herbaceous plant or a small shrub, typically growing to 2-5 feet in height.
  • The "waxweed" common name refers to the waxy or sticky feel of the upper stems, flower stalks, and flower tubes.

Other Cuphea Species

  • Cuphea micrantha (tinypetal waxweed)
  • Cuphea procumbens (creeping waxweed)
  • Cuphea viscosissima (blue waxweed)

Quirky Facts

  • Cuphea aequipetala (or aspera) is known as Hierba de Cancer in Mexico and Honduras, indicating a traditional medicinal use.

Further Information

  • Dave's Garden: A community sharing tips and ideas for gardens, seeds, and plants.
  • Discover Life: Page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Cuphea aspera.
  • Wikimedia Commons: Contains media related to Cuphea aequipetala (or aspera).