Cloudbridge Nature Reserve is not only a sanctuary for wildlife but also a living laboratory where discoveries continue to unfold. In the misty cloud forest, countless species remain undescribed or little known to science. Every new finding adds to our understanding of these fragile ecosystems and strengthens the case for their protection. Research here helps us reveal the intricate relationships that make the cloud forest so unique — and shows just how much we still have to learn.
One recent example comes from Cloudbridge research associate Oscar Cubero-Vásquez, whose passion for plants has led to an exciting scientific breakthrough. Oscar is one of the main authors of a new international study describing Rhodospatha rubrinervis, a stunning vine found only in the Talamanca Mountains of Costa Rica.
With its vivid pink leaf veins, colourful midrib, and bright pink floral structures, this species is a showstopper in the cloud forest canopy. But the research revealed more than just beauty — it also documented a hidden detail in the genus Rhodospatha: a tiny bracteole at the base of the spathe (the floral sheath). First illustrated over 160 years ago but never fully studied, this structure may protect the flower during pollination by beetles, preventing damage that could end the flowering process prematurely.
Oscar has been observing R. rubrinervis in Cloudbridge for years, helping to piece together its life cycle and unique traits. The species blooms from March to June and fruits in September and October, growing in cloud forest and premontane rainforest around 1,800 metres. Although it occurs in protected areas, it has been classified as “Data Deficient” by the IUCN Red List due to limited information about its populations.
This discovery adds to Costa Rica’s rich plant diversity and shows how local expertise, long-term observation, and global collaboration can bring to light the hidden wonders of our forests. You can come visit Cloudbridge to learn more about this incredible ecosystem, full of mysteries and new species waiting to be discovered.
For those interested in the scientific details, the full study can be found in:
Cedeño-Fonseca M, Cubero-Vásquez O, Ortiz OO, Rodríguez-Arias M, Serna-Sánchez MA, Trujillo-Trujillo E, Jiménez JE, Zuluaga A, Hay A (2025) An overlooked morphological feature in the genus Rhodospatha (Araceae, Monsteroideae, Anepsiadeae) revealed through international collaboration, with the description of a new endemic species from Costa Rica. PhytoKeys 260: 185-199. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.260.154762