poinsettia

Description:

A shrub of fairly dark green leaves and a fiery red bract set of leaves around the inconspicuous bloom. The flower bud has a strange pot structure protruding from the side, giving access to the nectar.

Habitat:

Adjacent to a small stream. Altitude 1000m.

Notes:

A most unusual plant. Popular in the western world as a Christmas decoration plant. It has evolved to suit humming birds, with its bright red bract of leaves. The bloom is fairly odorless, as birds do not have a developed sense of smell.

Birds are very sensitive to reds whereas bugs are virtually blind to red and are attracted to blues. So, the plant being odorless and bright red, receives very little attention from the normal bug pollinators, although ants never miss a trick.