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, 05:25, 24 January 2008
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Aeschynanthus radicans''
| image = Aeschynanthus radicans.jpg
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Gesneriaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Aeschynanthus]]''
| species = '''''A. radicans'''''
| binomial = ''Aeschynanthus radicans''
| binomial_authority = [[William Jack (botanist)|Jack]]
}}
'''''Aeschynanthus radicans''''' is a vine-like plant native to the humid tropics of the [[Malay Peninsula]] south to [[Java (island)|Java]].
It is an [[epiphyte]] or [[lithophyte]] growing to 1.5 m tall, with leathery, green [[Leaf|leaves]] that are 4-8 cm long, ovate to lanceolate, opposite or whorled. The [[flower]]s are terminal, tubular, 5-7.5 cm long, with the upper lobes shorter than the lower. They are usually scarlet with yellow throats.
The common name '''Lipstick plant''', shared with other plants of the genus ''Aeschynanthus'', comes from the scarlet flowers that open from buds resembling tubes of [[lipstick]].
===Cultivation===
This plant is noted for its excellence as an interior plant and is perfect for hanging baskets. It requires a great deal of light, but not direct sunlight. Humidity is also noted as having an important positive effect. Clipping the plant makes it fuller. New plants may be started in water from clippings. This particular plant is also distinctive due to its pungent smell.