Abatia parviflora

Native to Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, this plant is a shrub or tree of humid mountain forests. In Colombia, it grows between about 6,500 and 11,100 feet. Its fragrant yellow flowers form long, narrow clusters at the ends of branches or beside the leaves. The flowers lack petals; numerous yellow stamens give the clusters their feathery appearance. Dry capsules split open to release many tiny seeds. In Bogotá, it is planted in urban green spaces and used in projects to restore vegetation around water sources. Photographed in Colombia’s Eastern Andes.