This magnificent flowering belongs to the red jade (Mucuna bennettii), also known as the "scarlet jade vine". Native to Papua New Guinea, this spectacular climbing plant is highly prized in tropical botanical gardens for the intensity of its colours and the uniqueness of its forms. Its flowers, arranged in long, hanging clusters, resemble curved claws and are a brilliant red, almost incandescent in the light. They attract not only the eye of visitors, but also pollinators such as nectar-eating bats and certain birds, which feed on their nectar. This vigorous vine thrives best in hot, humid climates, where it can cover pergolas or climb tall trees, creating an impressive natural spectacle. At the Bogor Botanic Garden, it is a marvellous illustration of the exuberance and diversity of tropical plants, revealing the aesthetic and ecological wealth of this region. A symbol of vitality, passion and energy, the red jade flower is as fascinating for its originality as for its rarity in nature.
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