Terrestrial tropical shrub; grows in warm, humid areas, forest margins, scrub, and cultivated gardens.
Distribution
Native to southern India and Sri Lanka; widely cultivated and naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
Edibility
Not a marine food species. Culinary use is not well documented; do not consume plant material without reliable identification and food-safety guidance.
Danger level
Harmless
Usual observation depth
0–0 m
Lifespan (years)
0
Behaviour
Sessile perennial woody shrub. It produces conspicuous flower clusters and is pollinated by insects; it has no animal behaviour.
Observation zones
Terrestrial gardens, parks, hedges, forest edges, and tropical scrub; not found in marine reef, wreck, or open-water zones.
Diet
Photosynthetic plant; makes energy from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, while obtaining mineral nutrients from soil.
Reproduction
Unknown
Identification marks
Evergreen shrub with opposite, glossy, leathery oval leaves and dense rounded clusters of many small tubular flowers, usually scarlet-red to orange-red, each with four spreading lobes.
Similar species
Often confused with other cultivated Ixora species and hybrids. Ixora coccinea is recognized by its dense terminal flower clusters, four-lobed tubular flowers, and opposite leathery leaves; flower colour alone is not reliable because many cultivated forms exist.
Approach rules
No diver-specific rules apply. Observe without damaging, collecting, or trampling the plant; do not feed wildlife or use flash photography in a way that disturbs nearby animals.
Protection
No global IUCN assessment or CITES listing is known for this widely cultivated terrestrial plant. Protect natural vegetation and follow applicable local conservation rules.
