Allure

Posted by Accio (Singapore, Singapore) on 26 March 2009 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.

This flower is of the species Melastoma malabathricum, commonly known as the Singapore Rhodedondron or Sendudok. It is a keystone species of the forest as it provides a steady supply of pollen all year round.

I've learnt (at the NUS Biodiversity module) that carpenter bees of the Xylocopa genus pollinate the plant - but I can't be sure if that's the identity of the insect. I'm just quite fascinated with the proboscis and love how this picture has turned out.