Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 3825597

Lipstick Plant

Aeschynanthus longicaulis

Also known as Zebra Basket Vine, Marble Basket Vine, Marbled Lipstick Plant

Marble lipstick plants cascade down rainforest trees in Southeast Asia, clinging to bark as high-canopy epiphytes. Their mottled foliage features striking creamy-white marbling on top with deep maroon veins underneath, offering camouflage against dappled forest sunlight. Curved orange tubular flowers emerge from purple-tinged calyces, attracting long-billed sunbirds that sip nectar while transferring pollen.

EpiphyteRainforestTropical
Lipstick Plant reference1 / 3
Licensed reference(c) Andy king50, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Mealybugs
  • Scale Insects
  • Caterpillars
ThreatsDeforestation and wild collection for tropical plant trade
HabitatsTropical rainforests and lower montane forests
Life span10–20 years
Classification
  1. OrderLamiales
  2. FamilyGesneriaceae
  3. GenusAeschynanthus
  4. SpeciesAeschynanthus longicaulis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Epiphytic Light: Position in bright, indirect sunlight to maintain the contrasting marble pattern on leaves.
  • Humidity Care: Provide high atmospheric moisture and airy bark substrates to mimic canopy conditions.
  • Gentle Handling: Avoid pulling trailing stems because trailing joint nodes snap easily under tension.
Related species
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