Ant Tree is a tree growing up to 5 m tall or more. Leaves are nearly
stalkless, 10-22 cm long, 4-6 cm wide, acute apically, wedge-shaped at the
base, entire, longitudinally lined, and with numerous pairs of prominent
lateral veins. Flower spikes are 6-10 cm long, bearing numerous ovate to
ovate-lanceolate, hirtellous bracts, pistillate perianth accrescent and
enclosing the fruit, three of the sepals much enlarged, 2.8-3.2 cm long,
4-5 mm wide, suffused red purple, showy. Achene are about 1 cm long
(including the style), the styles red purple. Ant Tree is native to South
America.
Identification credit: Jayesh Patil
Photographed in Lal Bagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore.
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The flower labeled Ant Tree is ...