Effect:
none known
Areas of application:
none known
Plant parts used:
-
Collection time:
-
Can be found:
South and Central America. Many species thrive in lowland rainforests below an altitude of 500 meters. The largest number of species thrive at medium altitudes in rain or cloud forests. Only a few species are found at altitudes above 2000 meters. Specimens are most commonly found in ruderal locations, for example along railway lines, and they are often pioneer plants after logging, or they can be found on river banks. However, many species depend on shady locations in primary forests; unfortunately, these species are often local endemics and are threatened with extinction if the forests are destroyed during logging.
Ingredients:
not known
Other:
Heliconias species grow as large, evergreen, perennial herbaceous plants. They usually form short branched, rarely runner-forming rhizomes that store starch. Usually only an unbranched "pseudo stem" is formed, which arises from the overlapping leaf sheaths. The above-ground parts of the plant are often hairy. The leaves, which are usually alternate and two-rowed, only basal or distributed along the stem, branch off parallel to the mid-vein and are differentiated into leaf sheath, petiole and leaf blade; in some species no petiole is visible. At the end of each "pseudo stem" a very large, decorative racemose inflorescence is formed, which is made up of several monochasial cymous, few- to many-flowered partial inflorescences. There are species with hanging and those with upright inflorescences. The most attractive are the strikingly colored spoon-shaped bracts, which can grow up to 2 meters long. There are keeled bracts. The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic and have three parts. All six perianth leaves are fused to form a tube at their base. The three sepals and two petals are also fused above this flower tube. One petal is also free at the base. There are five fertile stamens and a scale-like staminode per flower. The fertile stamens are fused to the basal flower tube. Three carpels are fused to form an inferior ovary with one ovule per ovary chamber. Septal nectaries are present. The elongated, thin style ends in a capitate or three- or rarely two-lobed stigma. The flowers of the bird-pollinated species are very rich in nectar and sometimes smell. The species pollinated by bats only bloom at night and do not smell; they usually have green bracts and green or white perianth leaves. The drupes, which are blue, red or orange when ripe, contain only one to three seeds each. There is thin, oily and starchy endosperm, which also contains aleurone. (Wikipedia)
The genus Lobster claws includes 100 to 225 species, some of which are ornamental.
Heliconias are an important food source for forest hummingbirds, especially the hermit hummingbirds (Phathornithinae), some of which—like the red-breasted hermit (Glaucis hirsuta)—also use the plant for nesting. The Honduran white bat (Ectophylla alba) also lives in tents it builds from heliconia leaves.
Heliconias are grown for the flower trade and as landscape plants. These plants do not grow well in cold, dry conditions. They do not tolerate drought, but can tolerate some flooding. Heliconias need plenty of water, sunlight, and humus-rich soil to grow well. These flowers are grown as ornamentals in tropical regions around the world. The flower of H. psittacorum (parrot heliconia) is particularly striking; its greenish-yellow flowers with black spots and red bracts are reminiscent of the bright plumage of parrots.