Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Myrtenordningen
Family: Melastomataceae
Genus: Heterocentron
Species: H. elegans
Binomial name: Heterocentron elegans
Synonyms: Centradenia floribunda, Schizocentron elegans, Rhexia elegans, Monochaetum guatemalense, Heeria elegans
Common name: Spanish Shawl
Heterocentron elegans is a tropical perennial subshrub native to the montane regions of Central America. It is a sprawling plant with small, dark green, oblong leaves with varying amounts of tiny hairs. It has a bright magenta or purple-pink, four-petalled flowers. It grows to a height of 5cm and has an indefinite spread.
In New Zealand, Heterocentron elegans is listed in the in the Global Compendium of Weeds, as a casual alien, naturalised weed.
The photos below are of it growing roadside bank in New Plymouth.
Growing in full sunshine
Growing on a vertical bank in the shade.
Closed flower with its distinctive spiky receptacle.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
