Achimenes /æˈkɪmɪniːz/[1] is a genus of about 25 species of tropical and subtropical rhizomatous perennial herbs in the flowering plant family Gesneriaceae. They have a multitude of common names such as magic flowers, widow’s tears, Cupid’s bower, or hot water plant.
According to some authorities, the plant’s name may come from the Greek word cheimanos meaning “tender” or “sensitive to cold.”[2]
The genus is native to Mexico and Central America, with one species (A. erecta) occurring naturally in the West Indies. The largest number of species is found in Mexico. Several species and hybrids are widely cultivated and naturalized outside their native range. A complete list of the species, with their synonyms and geographic distributions, can be found in the Smithsonian Institution’s World Checklist of Gesneriaceae.
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