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 83 hummingbird and Heliconia DHJanzen101096.jpg high resolution
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| Now, in your mind take the Heliconia species in image DHJanzen101094.jpg above, and turn it upside down, making it a pendant inflorescence as it is here in this other species of Heliconia. Now the bracts clasp tightly around the flowers buds to protect them, and each opening flower pokes out into space to be visited by a hummingbird. The base of the flower is protected from penetration access by bees and short-billed hummingbirds, and the exposed flower is curved. Curved? See the pollinator in image DHJanzen101095.jpg below. | ||
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