Aeschynanthus

Aeschynanthus is a genus of about 150 species of evergreen subtropical and tropical plants in the family Gesneriaceae. They are usually trailing epiphytes with brightly colored flowers that are pollinated by sunbirds. The genus name comes from a contraction of aischuno (to be ashamed) and anthos (flower). The common name for some species is lipstick plant, which comes from the appearance of the developing buds emerging from the calyces. A full list of the accepted species and their synonyms can be found in the Smithsonian Institution's World Checklist of Gesneriaceae.

The genus contains a large variety of plants with differing features. Some have thick, waxy cuticles while others have much softer leaves. Species such as A. speciosus are large where A. micranthus is much smaller and trailing. Several species are valued in temperate climates as houseplants, notably A. longicaulis, A. pulcher and A. radicans.

Species
Species include:


 * Aeschynanthus acuminatissimus W.T.Wang
 * Aeschynanthus acuminatus Wall. ex A.DC.
 * Aeschynanthus albidus (Blume) Steud.
 * Aeschynanthus amoenus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus andersonii C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus angustioblongus W.T.Wang
 * Aeschynanthus apicidens Hance
 * Aeschynanthus arctocalyx Mendum & Madulid
 * Aeschynanthus arfakensis C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus argentii Mendum
 * Aeschynanthus asclepioides (Elmer) B.L.Burtt & P.Woods
 * Aeschynanthus atrorubens Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus atrosanguineus Van Houtte ex C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus batakiorum Mendum & Madulid
 * Aeschynanthus batesii Mendum
 * Aeschynanthus brachyphyllus S.Moore
 * Aeschynanthus bracteatus Wall. ex A.DC.
 * Aeschynanthus brevicalyx Miq.
 * Aeschynanthus burttii Mendum
 * Aeschynanthus buxifolius Hemsl.
 * Aeschynanthus calanthus Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus cambodiensis D.J.Middleton
 * Aeschynanthus camiguinensis Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus candidus Hend. ex C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus cardinalis (Copel. ex Merr.) Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus caudatus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus celebicus Koord.
 * Aeschynanthus ceylanicus Gardner
 * Aeschynanthus chiritoides C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus chorisepalus Orr
 * Aeschynanthus chrysanthus P.Woods
 * Aeschynanthus citrinus Mendum & S.M.Scott
 * Aeschynanthus cordifolius Hook.
 * Aeschynanthus crassifolius (Elmer) Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus cryptanthus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus curtisii C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus curvicalyx Mendum
 * Aeschynanthus dasycalyx Hallier f.
 * Aeschynanthus dempoensis S.Moore
 * Aeschynanthus dischorensis Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus dolichanthus W.T. Wang
 * Aeschynanthus dunnii H.Lév.
 * Aeschynanthus ellipticus K.Schum. & Lauterb.
 * Aeschynanthus elmeri Mendum
 * Aeschynanthus elongatus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus everettianus Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus fecundus P.Woods
 * Aeschynanthus firmus Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus flammeus Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus flavidus Mendum & P.Woods
 * Aeschynanthus flippancei Ridl.
 * Aeschynanthus forbesii K.Schum.
 * Aeschynanthus foxworthyi Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus fraserianus Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus fruticosus Ridl.
 * Aeschynanthus fulgens Wall. ex R.Br.
 * Aeschynanthus garrettii Craib
 * Aeschynanthus geminatus Zoll. & Moritzi
 * Aeschynanthus gesneriflorus S.Moore
 * Aeschynanthus gjellerupii Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus glomeriflorus Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus griffithii R.Br.
 * Aeschynanthus guttatus P.Woods
 * Aeschynanthus hartleyi P.Woods
 * Aeschynanthus hians C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus hispidus Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus hookeri C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus horsfieldii R.Br.
 * Aeschynanthus hoseanus Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus hosseusii Pellegr.
 * Aeschynanthus humilis Hemsl.
 * Aeschynanthus impar Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus intermedia Teijsm. & Binn.
 * Aeschynanthus intraflavus Mendum
 * Aeschynanthus janowskyi Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus jouyi D.J.Middleton
 * Aeschynanthus kermesinus Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus kingii C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus lancilimbus W.T.Wang
 * Aeschynanthus lasianthus W.T.Wang
 * Aeschynanthus lasiocalyx W.T.Wang
 * Aeschynanthus lepidospermus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus leptocladus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus leucothamnos Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus levipes C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus ligustrinus Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus linearifolius C.E.C.Fisch.
 * Aeschynanthus lineatus Craib
 * Aeschynanthus lobaticalyx Mendum
 * Aeschynanthus loheri Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus longicalyx Ridl.
 * Aeschynanthus longicaulis Wall. ex R.Br.
 * Aeschynanthus longiflorus (Blume) A.DC.
 * Aeschynanthus macrocalyx C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus madulidii Mendum
 * Aeschynanthus magnificus Stapf
 * Aeschynanthus mannii Kurz ex C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus marginatus Ridl.
 * Aeschynanthus masoniae Kurz ex C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus medogensis W.T.Wang
 * Aeschynanthus membranifolius (Costantin) D.J.Middleton
 * Aeschynanthus mendumiae D.J.Middleton
 * Aeschynanthus mengxingensis W.T.Wang
 * Aeschynanthus meo K.Schum.
 * Aeschynanthus micranthus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus microcardius B.L.Burtt & R.A.Davidson
 * Aeschynanthus microphyllus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus microtrichus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus miniaceus B.L.Burtt & P.Woods
 * Aeschynanthus miniatus Lindl.
 * Aeschynanthus minutifolius D.J.Middleton
 * Aeschynanthus mollis Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus monetarius Dunn
 * Aeschynanthus moningerae (Merr.) Chun
 * Aeschynanthus montisucris P.Royen
 * Aeschynanthus motleyi C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus musaensis P.Woods
 * Aeschynanthus myrmecophilus P.Woods
 * Aeschynanthus myrtifolius Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus nabirensis Kaneh. & Hatus.
 * Aeschynanthus nervosus (Elmer) Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus novogracilis W.T.Wang
 * Aeschynanthus nummularius (Burkill & S.Moore) K.Schum.
 * Aeschynanthus obconicus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus obovatus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus oxychlamys Mendum
 * Aeschynanthus pachyanthus Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus papuanus (Schltr.) B.L.Burtt
 * Aeschynanthus parasiticus (Roxb.) Wall.
 * Aeschynanthus parviflorus (D.Don) Spreng.
 * Aeschynanthus pedunculatus D.J.Middleton
 * Aeschynanthus perakensis Ridl.
 * Aeschynanthus pergracilis Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus perrottetii A.DC.
 * Aeschynanthus phaeotrichus Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus philippinensis C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus planiculmis (C.B.Clarke) Gamble
 * Aeschynanthus planipetiolatus H.W.Li
 * Aeschynanthus podocarpus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus poilanei Pellegr.
 * Aeschynanthus polillensis Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus praelongus Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus pseudohybridus Mendum
 * Aeschynanthus pulcher (Blume) G.Don
 * Aeschynanthus pullei Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus radicans Jack
 * Aeschynanthus rarus Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus rhododendron Ridl.
 * Aeschynanthus rhodophyllus Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus roseoflorus Mendum
 * Aeschynanthus roseus Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus rubiginosus Teijsm. & Binn.
 * Aeschynanthus sanguineus Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus serpens Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus setosus Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus sinolongicalyx W.T.Wang
 * Aeschynanthus siphonanthus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus sojolianus Mendum & L.E.R.Galloway
 * Aeschynanthus solomonensis P.Woods
 * Aeschynanthus speciosus Hook.
 * Aeschynanthus stenocalyx Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus stenosepalus J.Anthony
 * Aeschynanthus stenosiphon Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus suborbiculatus S.Moore
 * Aeschynanthus superbus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus tenericaulis Diels
 * Aeschynanthus tengchungensis W.T.Wang
 * Aeschynanthus tenuis Hand.-Mazz.
 * Aeschynanthus tetraquetrus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus teysmannianus Miq.
 * Aeschynanthus tirapensis Bhattacharyya
 * Aeschynanthus torricellensis Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus trichocalyx Kraenzl.
 * Aeschynanthus tricolor Hook.
 * Aeschynanthus tubiflorus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus tubulosus J.Anthony
 * Aeschynanthus verticillatus C.B.Clarke
 * Aeschynanthus vinaceus P.Woods
 * Aeschynanthus viridiflorus Teijsm. & Binn.
 * Aeschynanthus volubilis Jack
 * Aeschynanthus wallichii Benn.
 * Aeschynanthus wardii Merr.
 * Aeschynanthus warianus Schltr.
 * Aeschynanthus zamboangensis Kraenzl.

Cultivation
They require good lighting and semi-moist, well-drained soil conditions to grow, though they vary and some require more moist soil. They also prefer warm and humid conditions.