Around the fish pool in the central Tropical Rainforests arise on prop roots the slime-blackened stems of Bruguiera gynmorrhiza, scarred and bumpy from where the leaf stalks are quickly shed in the quest upwards for light. An apple green topknot of leaves shelter a handful of bright bubblegum plastic pink flowers suspended from arced stalks, each narrow conical bell deeply fringed.
These are plants of the Florida swamplands, and the spindle shaped fruits that follow drop straight down to penetrate the soft mud, gain anchorage and germinate.
