Cuphea is a
genus containing about 260
species of
annual and
perennial flowering plants native to warm
temperate to
tropical regions of the Americas. The species range from low-growing
herbaceous plants to semi-woody
shrubs up to tall. Commonly they are known as
cupheas, or, in the case of some species, as
cigar plants. The generic name is derived from the
Greek word κυφος (
kyphos), meaning "bent," "curved," or "humped."