Genus of about 20 species of soft-stemmed evergreen shrubs and shrubby perennials from tropical rainforest in Central and South America. They have opposite pairs of simple, often entire leaves, and bear terminal or axillary spikes or panicles of tubular, yellow, orange, red or purple flowers. This shrub can be grown as a house plant if you can provide high air humidity. Stand the pot on a pebble tray and mist the leaves frequently. The yellow flowers are borne in upright clusters above the foliage. The large leaves, up to 12 in. lomg, provide the main display with their yellow or ivory veins. Prune each spring. The bush grows about 3 ft or high and the flowers appear in early summer.