Medinilla multiflora

Endemic to the Philippines, this shrub grows on the ground or on trees in wet tropical forests. Its branched flower clusters can contain hundreds of pink flowers, usually with four petals. On Mount Makiling in the Philippines, flowering and fruiting occur throughout the year. Each flower opens for a single day, while successive flowers extend the display for more than a month. Bees vibrate the violet anthers to release pollen through small pores. Pollination is needed for fruit development, although pollen from the same plant can produce fruit. The magenta or reddish young berries ripen purplish black and contain numerous tiny seeds. Photographed in Pereira, Colombia.