Bracts are a type of modified leaf associated with a flower. Some times bracts are responsible for both protecting and advertising flowers, and in such cases they are both colorful and long lasting. No wonder some of these attractively bracted plants are big favorites of the cut flower business. In tropical areas some of these plants are planted as ornamentals, mostly gingers, heliconias, and spiral gingers. This is called a red wax ginger (probably Tapeinochitos ananasse). A somewhat less conspicuous yellow flower is associated with each bract, but clearly the whole inflorescence functions in attraction of bird pollinators. The look waxy because of a heavy cuticle, which also means they last for a long time. So this is not a flower, but a whole cluster of flowers, and yes, this is one of the things that makes TPP's blog a great flower blog, so some dubious correspondent suggested, one which the ever suspicious blogger never responded to, but already people know the FFF (no matter what day it comes out) is a quality product given away free.
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