Palicourea amethystina

Native to western South America, this shrub or small tree grows in the understory of moist Andean forests. Plants can reach about 16 feet tall, branching from the base. The leaves have a soft, velvety texture, and the flower clusters have pink to red stalks with blue to deep purple tubular flowers. Hummingbirds visit the flowers, while birds disperse the fruits. It can also grow in secondary forest. Photographed in Bogotá, Colombia.