Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • United States
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. United States
  3. 2022
  4. November 27
  5. Cecropia leaf atop lobster claw petals, Mexico
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Cecropia leaf atop lobster claw petals, Mexico

November 27, 2022

Cecropia leaf atop lobster claw petals, Mexico

© Gerry Ellis/Minden Picture

Unbe-leaf-able. Cecropia leaf and lobster claw petals in Mexico

No doubt your eyes are drawn to the large, silver-bluish leaf in today's photo, but there's a little more to this colorful display. We're on the floor of a Mexican rainforest to examine a large Cecropia leaf and some lobster claw petals. The genus called Cecropia contains some of the most recognizable neotropical trees anywhere, but the roughly 60 different species can be hard to tell apart. All Cecropias grow fast, by tree standards anyway. On average, they'll climb about 2.5 feet per year and under perfect conditions can grow as much as 10 feet in that time, eventually reaching around 60 feet tall. When dried, Cecropia leaves shrivel into a fist-like form which displays interesting patterns and shapes. Not only are Cecropias very popular with animals like sloths, monkeys, and toucans for their fruit and leaves, many species have a symbiotic relationship with Azteca ants. Cecropias provide shelter and food for ants, and the ants in turn defend the trees from plant-eating predators.

The other striking leaves here are cup-shaped flower petals of the hanging lobster claw plant, or what botanists call the Heliconia rostrata. With its bright colors and distinctive shape, the lobster claw is often cultivated as an ornamental plant for tropical gardens. Gardeners looking to attract birds love the Heliconia because its plentiful nectar draws hummingbirds to its downward-facing flowers. Those same flowers have special recognition in Bolivia as 'patujú,' the national flower, which appears on one of the country's flags.

leaf plant

Related Images

South Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park, ArizonaSouth Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Quiver trees in NamibiaQuiver trees in Namibia
Western box turtleWestern box turtle
Arenal Volcano seen from Monteverde, Costa RicaArenal Volcano seen from Monteverde, Costa Rica
European honeybees in Sheffield, EnglandEuropean honeybees in Sheffield, England
Sumatran rhinoceros female eating leaves, Way Kambas National Park, Sumatra, IndonesiaSumatran rhinoceros female eating leaves, Way Kambas National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia
Wild lupines in bloomWild lupines in bloom
Poenari Castle on Mount Cetatea, Făgăraș Mountains, RomaniaPoenari Castle on Mount Cetatea, Făgăraș Mountains, Romania

Today on Bing

Aerial view of Penn Station and the New York City skyline at night in the 1950s

Aerial view of Penn Station and the New York City skyline at night in the 1950s

Nov 27, 2021
Kayaking in Glacier National Park, Montana

Kayaking in Glacier National Park, Montana

Nov 27, 2020
Aerial view of Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona

Aerial view of Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona

Nov 27, 2019
An Arctic fox in Dovrefjell, Norway

An Arctic fox in Dovrefjell, Norway

Nov 27, 2018
European badger foraging in the Black Forest, Germany

European badger foraging in the Black Forest, Germany

Nov 27, 2017

Related Tags

plant outdoor sky tree mountain nature landscape hillside hill flower cloud animal lush rock valley canyon rocky escarpment stone blue sky
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
Download 4K Ultra HD
Download 5895x3316
  • © 2023 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.