Myrcia popayanensis

Endemic to Colombia, this shrub or tree grows in moist Andean forests. Young leaves emerge strongly reddish before turning green. Small, fragrant white flowers with numerous reddish stamens grow in clusters at the branch tips. The fleshy, egg-shaped berries change from green to yellow and purple as they ripen and contain one or two seeds. The species has been used in active restoration of Andean forests in Antioquia. Its fleshy fruits feed birds such as guans, toucans and manakins. Photographed in Bogotá, Colombia.