Miconia donaeana

Native from southwestern Mexico through Central America to Venezuela and Peru, this shrub or small tree reaches about 6 to 23 feet tall. Its flowers grow in branching clusters, with five petals and conspicuous elongated stamens of alternating sizes. Small fleshy fruits ripen purple. It occurs in the moist tropical forests of its native range. Its leaves feed the caterpillars of the skipper butterfly Tiana niger in Costa Rica. Photographed in Panama.