The boat journey to Angel Falls was interrupted only once by a long section of rapids where we had to disembark and walk for about 20 minutes on the open savanna. This flowering Rhynchanthera grandiflora was located along this path.
Native range is Mexico to tropical South America.
Last updated on 2 July 2024
I think it’s Rhynchanthera grandiflora.
Here is some information about this plant found on the net:
Distribution: The range of the species extends from southern Mexico and Panama through Venezuela to French Guiana, further south through the Amazon and Caating to the central region of Cerrad, and also appears in northern Bolivia.
Ecology: Grows in the savanna, in the wetlands, along the rivers and on the shores of the lakes, bordering the pastures, in the zone from the coastline to an altitude of about 1200 m.
Diagnosis: Half shrub to shrub, 50-200 cm tall, with square or almost round branches in cross-section, glandular hairs. The leaves are petiolate, lanceolate to oval, 4,5-10 cm long and 2,5-4,5 cm broad, cordate at the base, serrated at the edge, ciliate, pointed at the apex, hairy, with 7-9 prominent parallel veins. The inflorescence is apical, the flowers are numerous; the bracts are similar to the leaves, but smaller, sessile; the calyx is finely hairy, its ends linearly pinnate, 6-15 mm long; the leaves of the crown are ovate to obovate, 20–25 mm long, dark pink to purple, fertile, 5 crowns protruding from the crown, one of which is significantly longer, short sterile sticks are also 5. The fruit is a brown capsule, 6–7 mm long.
Many thanks for your detailed update Christophe, it does indeed look like it!