
Common name: Flame Vine, Fire-cracker Vine, Flaming Trumpet 炮仗花 Family: Bignoniaceae 紫葳科 Origin: South America Location: Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
A vigorous, fast-growing, evergreen woody vine that blooms in winter and spring with spectacular reddish-orange flowers. The compound leaves have two or three 2-3 in (5.1-7.6 cm) oval leaflets and are arranged in pairs opposite each other on the stem. Often, the center leaflet is modified into a coiled, three-parted tendril. Flame vine branches profusely and climbs by clinging with its tendrils. The tubular flowers are about 3 in (7.6 cm) long and borne in clusters of 15-20 at the tips of branches. The corolla has five lobes which are bent backwards, and the long orange stamens and style extend beyond the tube. The flower clusters may hang down under the weight of their own beauty. Fruits are slender dry capsules about 1 ft (o.3 m) long.
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