CULTIVAR NAME: 'Firebird'
PARENTAGE: Costus aff. osae X comosus
STATUS: name accepted, not established
TYPE: possible hybrid
REFERENCE: www.gingersrus.com/DataSheet.php?PID=7575
PUBLISHED:
REGISTRANT: D. Skinner
NOTES:
ORIGIN:
Origin uncertain, plant obtained from Tom Wood who received it in south Florida, named and introduced as 'Firebird' by Dave Skinner
DESCRIPTION: A key character distinguishing this cultivar is the bicarinate bracteole like Costus osae, but with bright yellow instead of reddish flowers. This plant looks almost exactly like Costus osae until it flowers. Stems and leaves are soft and hairy, leaves light green, ligule very short, plant grows to about 1/2 meter tall. The inflorescence is entirely different having characters of Costus comosus with red triangular bracts, only lower bracts with appendages, and with yellow tubular flowers that extend well beyond the bracts.
