Mexican Petunia

India · nature

A pink Mexican petunia opens late in the afternoon, its narrow leaves catching backlight. A garden escape that has decided to stay.

Ruellia simplex — Mexican petunia — is one of those plants that arrived in Indian gardens as an ornamental and then quietly went feral. It throws roots from any node that touches soil, and once it's in, it doesn't leave. Gardeners alternately curse it and accept it. The flowers, in fairness, are gorgeous.

This stem had bloomed just after a small shower, and the petals were still soft-edged and slightly damp. The narrow leaves caught the light from behind, going almost translucent at the tips. I photographed it against a green-on-green background because anything else would have competed. Sometimes a difficult plant earns its place by doing one thing well, and Mexican petunia does the pink flower part extremely well.

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