Columnea hirta

Columnea hirta is a species of flowering plants in the genus Columnea. They are endemic to Costa Rica and Panama but are widely cultivated as an ornamental.

Columnea hirta
Columnea hirta habitus
Columnea hirta inflorescence
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Gesneriaceae
Genus:	Columnea
Species:	C. hirta
Binomial name
Columnea hirta Klotzsch & Hanst.

Description

Columnea hirta grows to a maximum height of 3 ft (0.91 m). Their trailing stems are covered with small red hairs. Their velvety leaves are dark green in color and ovate in shape. The profuse tubular flowers are orange to red-orange in color. They are 8 cm (3.1 in) in length and bloom all throughout the year.^[1][2]

Distribution and habitat

Columnea hirta is epiphytic. They are endemic to Costa Rica and Panama but are widely cultivated as an ornamental.^[3]

Taxonomy

Columnea hirta was first described by the German botanists Johann Friedrich Klotzsch and Johannes von Hanstein in 1865.^[4] It is classified under the genus Columnea of the family Gesneriaceae.^[5]