Magenta Flower Stem in the Monteverde Cloud Forest

Pink flowers and buds along a curved magenta stem against blurred green foliage in Costa Rica.
Pink flowers and buds along a curved magenta stem against blurred green foliage in Costa Rica.

Phytolacca, a genus in the pokeweed family, produces magenta-stemmed flower spikes like this one, found in the understory of Central American cloud forests such as Monteverde's reserve. Its small white-and-pink blossoms mature into dark berries that birds and small mammals feed on and disperse, helping the plant colonize disturbed ground and forest edges.

Taken February 2019

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Monteverde
Monteverde Cloud Forest and Hidden Canopy Treehouses: canopy, trails, wildlife and hanging bridges in Costa Rica
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