Columnea consanguinea Hanst.

 

Columnea consanguinea is a species of flowering plants in the genus Columnea. They are endemic to Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Panama. They are distinctive for possessing red translucent heart-shaped markings on their leaves that serve to attract their main pollinators - the hummingbird Heliodoxa jacula - to their more inconspicuous flowers.

The species was first described by Johannes von Hanstein in 1865. It is classified under the family Gesneriaceae.

Description

Columnea consanguinea is a shrub-like herb with unbranched pale brown and hairy stems that grow to a maximum length of around 1 to 1.2 m (3.3 to 3.9 ft) long. Their leaves are borne on stalks around 1 cm (0.39 in) in length, and arranged in an opposite pattern along the stems. However, one leaf in each pair is a great deal smaller than the other leaf, giving the impression that the leaves are arranged alternately.

The larger leaf blades are lanceolate with unequal sides. They are about 12 to 16 centimetres (4.7 to 6.3 in) long and 3 to 6 cm (1.2 to 2.4 in) wide. They are smooth on the upper surface and slightly hairy on the lower surface. They are predominantly dark green in color but bear characteristic translucent bright red heart-shaped markings on the underside of their leaves. The markings are visible on the upper surface as yellow-green areas. The smaller leaves in the pairs are only 1 to 2.5 cm (0.39 to 0.98 in) in length, and about 0.8 cm (0.31 in) in width. They are located flush to the stems and look like small sheaths.

The small tubular flowers arise from the stem near the bases of the leaves. They are about 3 cm (1.2 in) long and 0.8 cm (0.31 in) wide. The petals are pale yellow in color while the calyx can be green to red. They bloom all throughout the year and develop into small numerous yellow fruits.

Columnea consanguinea closely resemble Columnea florida. The latter also has red heart-shaped markings on their leaves but can be distinguished by the teeth-like (pectinate) edges of their flower calyces.

Columnea consanguinea - Wikipedia

 

Columnea consanguinea · iNaturalist

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