Flower bract of Etlingera or Torch Ginger, one of my favorites for flower arrangements.

Watercolour on Arches 300 g cold-pressed
40 x 50 cm

Torch Ginger is another one of those huge tropical plants; the bamboo-like stalks grow to a height of 6 meters (20 feet) with 2 meter long lance-shaped leaves. The flower bracts grow right from the roots on 5 foot leafless stalks. The colour in real life is bright red with a white/ pink rim, no blue involved - I took some artistic liberties here.