This is an amusing thread that draws comparison between two quite different, but equally beautiful, 'Firebushes'.
The Chilean Firebush (Embothrium coccineum), also known as notro, is an evergreen shrub or small tree, native to southern Argentina and Chile, the Southern Cone of South America. It is in the Protea Family (Proteaceae) and is adapted to cool Mediterranean and Maritime climates.
The Indian or Pan-American Firebush (Hamelia patens), in the Madder family (Rubiaceae), is an evergreen shrub native to southern Florida, Mexico, Central America, tropical South America, and the Caribbean. It is also widely grown in many other tropical and subtropical lands.
Of course, despite their differences, these two plants both have 'fire' in their common names for the same reason:
Millions of years of adaptive evolution towards the encouragement of hummingbird pollination.
Though it has been suggested that the red color of many bird-pollinated flowers has more to do with discouraging insect visitation than drawing birds, which are smart enough to visit any color flower if there is sufficient reward (nectar).
