While we might be somewhat familiar with this group of plants commonly seen
in local greenhouses, they were abundant and easily seen through out our travels.
They have a special role in the equatorial jungle during the rainy season as
their funnel shaped leaf heads catch and hold considerable amounts of water.
When the weight of many of these and other plant blotters (lichens and mosses)
combined for enough mass, the supporting tree or branch comes crashing down,
with little or no warning. This happened on two occasions when the first reaction
is to determine which way to flee after hearing the initial CRACK!!! and then the
crash. The good thing however, is that the canopy is opened up again to let in more light.