Galapagos Species Database

The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.

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Odontonema cuspidatum (Nees) Kuntze

lava botellas, coral de jardin, firespike, cardinal's guard, scarlet flame

Photo: .
Photo: .

Shrub resembling O. callistachyum but inflorescence rachis, bracts, etc. less densely pubescent. (POWO, 2022)

Fire Spike, Mottled Toothedthread or Cardinal's Guard. (POWO, 2022)

Taxonomy

Domain
Eukaryota

Kingdom
Plantae

Phylum
Magnoliophyta

Class
Magnoliopsida (= Dicotyledoneae)

Order
Scrophulariales

Family
Acanthaceae

Genus
Odontonema

Species
cuspidatum

Taxon category: Accepted

Syn.: Eranthemum coccineum Lem.

Origin: Introduced - established

Introduction

Year of first record: 2003

Mode of introduction: Intentional

Introduction Pathway: Intentional

Subpathway: Agriculture/Horticulture

Introduced status: Naturalized

Invasive status: No data

Distribution

Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.

Distribution: Native of Mexico and possibly the West Indies. Widely cultivated in the tropics. (POWO, 2022)

References

  • Tropicos.org. (2017) Database of Missouri Botanical Garden. Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 06 Oct 2017 <http://www.tropicos.org
  • Guézou, A. Trueman, M., Buddenhagen, E., Chamorro, S., Guerrero, A.M., Pozo, P., Atkinson, R. (2010) An extensive Alien Plan Inventory from the Inhabited Areas of Galapagos Plos One/ www.plosone.org. Volume 5/ Issue 4/e10276

You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.

This page should be cited as follows:

"Galapagos Species Database, Odontonema cuspidatum", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=1785. Accessed 3 May 2025.