Firespike

Picture taken at Shilparamam, Hyderabad just outside a small eatery.  I wonder how many looked up from their plates ( the food was delicious) and noticed this beautiful flower. 

Common name: Firespike, Cardinal guard, Scarlet flame

Firespike is attractive evergreen shrub with sparse, stiff branches that grow mostly straight up to about 6 ft tall

It has shiny dark green leaves with wavy margins and long pointed tips. From late summer through winter firespike produces abundant 9-12 nn upright panicles of brilliant red tubular flowers

Botanical name: Odontonema strictum    Family: Acanthaceae (ruellia family)