This plant is among the more exciting of my recent finds (well, not that recent). I don’t have any real reason why, other than that I find its flowers to be absolutely enchanting. A corolla tube nearly 7 cm in length? Must be a helluva hummingbird. And: I want to know all about those anthocyanins…

First (and the only time I have) found this species was on a highly successful collecting trip with friends and colleagues Carrie Kiel and Kristen Hasenstab-Lehman. We love Mexico.

Wild collected, Mexico, Tripp, Kiel & Hasenstab-Lehman #1221 (RSA-POM); Photo by Erin Tripp