Clerodendrum thomsoniae
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Clerodendrum thomsoniae | ||||||||||||||
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Clerodendrum thomsoniae Balf. |
Clerodendron thomsoniae is a species of Clerodendrum native to tropical west Africa from Cameroon west to Senegal. It is an evergreen liana growing to 4 m tall, with ovate to oblong leaves 8-17 cm long. The flowers are produced in cymes of 8-20 together, each flower with a pure white to pale purple five-lobed calyx 2.5 cm diameter, and a red five-lobed corolla 2 cm long and diameter.
It is grown as an ornamental plant for its decorative two-coloured flowers. Common names include Glorybower, Glory-bower, Bagflower, Bleeding Glory-bower, or Bleeding Heart Vine. In some regions it has escaped from cultivation and become naturalised.
This plant was very popular during the mid 19th century under the name beauty bush. It lost favor only when its unusual culture conditions were forgotten. Specifically, its root system must be partially submerged in water most of the time, and it wants very good light.