The red peril

While walking in the forest in Chile in 2005 we came across a huge spiky ball which had obviously fallen out of a tree. It was gigantic, 10ft across as I remember it - which means that it was probably a lot smaller! - and proved to be a pineapple relative.

Fascicularia bicolor subsp. canaliculata, to respectfully accord the beast its full name, is a bromeliad which grows in trees, as the aforementioned example shows, and is probably pollinated by birds, possibly hummingbirds. When the small blue flowers appear deep down in the heart of the rosette - they are over now - the bracts surrounding the flowers turn bright red, attracting the pollinators. Very clever!

Our specimens are growing on the ground, apart from one which I squeezed into the fork of a huge goat willow and is now looking as it would do at home - apart from the willow, of course! Fascicularia bicolor subsp. bicolor, which we also have and seems to have wider leaves, grows normally on rocks and cliffs.

Put your hand inside at your peril - you may not get it out again owing to the downward facing spines. Ouch!