| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | Yellow firebush (English) | 
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native | 
| Description: | Scrambling shrub or small tree up to 6 m high. Inflorescence 1-8 cm long, shorter than H. floribundum, lacking the pair of characteristic bracts of that species. Stipules often 2-fid. Leaves elliptic to oblanceolate, 1-9 × 1-5 cm, with venation not drying reticulate beneath; hairless to densely scaly-hairy; apex obtuse to acuminate. Inflorescence a terminal spike, often with additional lateral spikes, the whole forming a panicle. Corolla white, greenish or yellow; tube 2.5-5 mm; lobes 1.5 × 1 mm. Capsule 1.5 - 2.5(-4) cm long, reddish-brown, with prominent lenticels. Seeds 0.8 - 1.6 cm, winged. | 
| Type location: | Kenya | 
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | parvifolium: with small leaves | 
| Habitat: | In woodland at low altitudes | 
| Altitude range: (metres) | 250 - 1110 m | 
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Limpopo and Mpumalanga, South Africa. | 
| FZ divisions: | N,T,MS | 
| Growth form(s): | Tree, shrub over 2 m. | 
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species | 
| Images last updated: | Thursday 24 December 2015 | 
| Literature: | Bridson, D.M. & Verdcourt, B. (2003). Rubiaceae, Part 3 Flora Zambesiaca 5(3) Pages 426 - 427. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 1018. (Includes a picture). Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 1037. (Includes a picture). Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 274. As Hymenodictyon parvifolium Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 72. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 89. Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 628 - 629. (Includes a picture). Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 163. Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik, South Africa Pages 280 - 281. (Includes a picture). |