Yes, Josh it looks exactly like Pachira aquatica, however the base of mine is not braided. Do i have to train them to do that, there are 3 base stems that look like if left to grow they might intertwine. Wow, this is interesting

A MILLION TREES FOR THE AMAZON RAINFOREST My name is Macarena Rosales, and I live in Perú. I love eco-tourism. During a trip to the Peruvian Amazonia, I went to Codo del Pozuzo (Huánuco Region), and was delighted with its people and customs, and with the beauty of the Forest. I was talking to the villagers and making a kind of vivential tourism when I was informed about the sale of a piece of land which was deforestated for shepherding. I was full motivated and I intended not only to exploit and transform again that land into a small piece of lung of the Amazonia, but to give the surrounding communities the opportunity to economically take advantage of it in a conscious and ecological way. Then there will be planted trees, fruits and wood of which could immediately benefit both the environment as well as the ecosystem. This is not definitely a cheap project. I had to find out how to finance it effectively and creatively. A system generating the necessary funds to the project development without asking for donations... And I found the way:http://www.themilliontreeshomepage.com/ I would like you to join us. See you there! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1uPv_yisZY Here is a link that might be useful: Million Trees homepage

I found the name: Pearcea hypocyrtiflora Here's a link with more pictures: http://www.gesneriads.ca/pearcea.htm This diminutive rhizomatous plant has very attractive and colorful foliage, as well as unusual brilliantly red flowers. The lobes of the flowers do not open except under optimum conditions. The flowers are probably hummingbird pollinated. They grow in colonies in tropical rain forests. Thanks, Joe Here is a link that might be useful: More info and pictures about this plant

Thank you for the encouragement, interest and advice. A lot of the plants are of local provenance (many from regeneration) but as someone who has spent a lifetime passionate about plants, when I was gardening professionally in the UK, I do love variety as well! I am very lucky to have a couple of good mates who spent many years working for Fairhill Nursery before they retired and one of them, Phil, did a lot of their seed collecting; these two have been very generous in their knowledge and with 'special' plants so I do also have a lot of natives that are not of local provenance as well. I'm really looking forward to seeing this garden/wildlife plot develop and flourish - I just hope I'm around long enough to see it reach some form of maturity. Even now in these early stages (I do have quite a lot of mature trees as well) I get an immense pleasure from spending quiet times amongst these trees! At this point I would also recommend strongly the "Land for Wildlife Scheme" that is run through the local authorities. Thank you all for your interest and Happy Gardening. Cheers Jan