Sabdariffa radiata

Native from India to Myanmar, this annual herb or shrub grows in seasonally dry tropical regions. Its flowers are usually dark red to rose-purple with a deep purple center. The leaves are deeply divided into narrow, toothed lobes, and the calyx has prominent ribs bearing bristly hairs. It has been introduced beyond its native range, including cultivation and naturalized populations in Colombia. The species has also been grown as a fiber crop in North America. Photographed in Barranquilla, Colombia.