Melanium P.Browne Melvilla A.Anderson Parsonsia P.Browne[1] Cuphea /ˈkjuːfiːə/[2] is a genus containing about 260 species of annual and perennial flowering plants native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Americas.

The generic name is derived from the Greek word κυφος (kyphos), meaning "bent," "curved," or "humped.

Cuphea may thus produce a valuable source of income for farmers in temperate regions, and by supplementing coconut and palm oil to satisfy the growing demand (e.g. for biodiesel production) at the same time decreasing the need for wholesale logging in tropical countries.

Early attempts at commercial production have focused on an interspecific hybrid population derived from C. lanceolata and Clammy Cuphea (C. viscosissima).

Crop rotation is commonly practiced among farmers to improve soil quality, control host-specific pests, and decrease the use of fertilizers and pesticides.