Calliandra purdiei

Native from northern Colombia to northwestern Venezuela, this perennial shrub or small tree usually grows about 7 to 16 feet tall, occasionally reaching 26 feet. Its spreading branches carry finely divided leaves with many tiny, narrow leaflets. Flower heads have long red stamens, and flowering and fruiting can recur throughout the year in Santander, Colombia. Flattened pods split open elastically, scattering the seeds. It grows along riverbanks and in forest understories, including seasonally dry forests. It is grown as an ornamental and to provide shade in coffee plantations. Colombian records range from about 130 to 5,300 feet. Photographed in Norte de Santander, Colombia.