Pontederia reflexa

Pontederia reflexa

These plants grow in a pond right outside the buildings of SouthWild Pantanal. I find the long leaves quite decorative and a plant worthy of any natural…


Tropical Pickerelweed (Pontederia rotundifolia)

Tropical Pickerelweed (Pontederia rotundifolia)

At first this looks like a starved water Hyacinth, and you might pass on to find one with a grand inflorescence. When you take a closer look you’ll see that…


Tropical Pickerelweed (Pontederia rotundifolia)

Tropical Pickerelweed (Pontederia rotundifolia)

At first this looks like a starved water Hyacinth, and you might pass on to find one with a grand inflorescence. When you take a closer look you'll see that…


Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

When a sea of water hyacinths are in bloom you forget for a moment that this is a weed like no other - it can block rivers for years on end! All the plants are…


Pickerel Weed (Pontederia parviflora)

Pickerel Weed (Pontederia parviflora)

On the way to SouthWild Pantanal from Porto Jofre I encountered this species of water hyacinth as I was wading out to an orchid, a fantastic specimen too, with…


Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Beautiful flowers on a plant species that in some instances can block all human activities. There are many rivers that have been totally blocked for years on…


Tristerix longibracteata

Tristerix longibracteatus

Altitude 3720 metres. Its native range is Colombia to Peru. Ecuador-0.325556,-78.148333


Tristerix longibracteatus

Tristerix longibracteatus

A parasitic plant, so the wonderful flowers are possible only due to the nutrients stolen from the host plant! In Europe we have the mistletoe - but no such…


Aetanthus nodosus

Aetanthus nodosus

Looks edible and tempting - but are they? First of all red here is not ripe - black is! Should I trust black berries from a plant that is parasitic? Then again…


Aetanthus nodosus

Aetanthus nodosus

Striking colors made from energy stolen from its host plant. Altitude 3450 metres. Native range is Colombia to Peru. Ecuador-0.355556,-78.151111……