Pentas lanceolata (Egyptian Star-cluster)

A shrub or subshrub native to eastern Africa, the Comoros, and the Arabian Peninsula, it belongs to the Rubiaceae family. It has hairy, erect or spreading stems and pointed, oval to lance-shaped leaves. Dense flower clusters develop at stem tips and in the leaf axils. Each tubular flower opens into five star-shaped lobes, with hairs inside the throat. Cultivated forms have pink, violet, red, or white flowers. The style and anthers may extend beyond the flower tube or remain within it. The nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds, and plants can bloom throughout the year in warm climates. Photographed in Armenia, Colombia.