Stats

Lifespan

Perennial

Size

Small

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Tropical rainforest

Range

Central America

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Status

Uncommon

About

This evergreen shrub grows in the wild forests of Mexico and Central America. Its tiny flowers snap shut instantly when touched to trap visiting insects inside.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Myrtales

Family

Lythraceae

Genus

Cuphea

Species

Cuphea hyssopifolia