Cochliostema odoratissimum

Native from Central America to Ecuador, it is a perennial herb that grows on tree branches in humid tropical forests. Its short stem supports a rosette of large, leathery, strap-shaped leaves that may be green or tinged with purple. The overlapping leaf bases form a tank that collects water. Stalked, branching flower clusters remain among the leaves and carry fragrant blue to violet flowers with three petals fringed by fine, beadlike hairs. The flower has three fertile stamens joined into an unusual hooded structure, which conceals their spirally coiled anthers. Three additional, sterile stamens bear conspicuous hairs. Photographed in Ecuador.