Rose of Venezuela

Description:

Brownea grandiceps Jacq. is a tropical tree belonging to the pea and bean family (Fabaceae/Leguminosae). Common names are Rose of Venezuela and Scarlet Flame Bean. A slow-growing evergreen tree, it barely reaches a height of 150 cm within 2 years from seed; with low, dense crown, it can grow 6-8 meters tall. It produces magnificent, crimson, almost spherical inflorescences up to 20 cm wide, which hang from the underside of the main branches. The flowers lack any scent, but they secrete copious amounts of sweet nectar attracting hummingbirds pollinating the flowers.

Habitat:

Found in Makiling Botanic Gardens, a 300-hectare protected forest park, situated at the lower elevations of the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve's Molawin-Dampalit watershed in Los Baños, Laguna. Distribution: It originated in South America but is now widely grown as a decorative tree in tropical gardens. Native to Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Honduras, Venezuela, Guyana. It is an understorey tree in the Amazon rainforest, usually in dense primary growth. It has a minimum temperature requirement of 55 °F (13 °C) and will thrive both in full sun and in partial shade.