Heliconias
are remarkable plants, not only for the beauty of
their flowers, but also for the fact that they are
so mysterious -- so little is known about them,
their cultivation and care. Anyone travelling in
the tropics will marvel at these large, eye-catching
plants when they are in bloom. Although these large
tropical flowers are natives to only Central and
South America and some islands of the South Pacific,
their easy cultivation and spectacular presence
have made them favorite garden subjects throughout
the world. They have become increasingly popular
as decorative flowers, especially in those regions
where they cannot be grown in the garden.
HABITATS
Most
species of heliconias can be found in moist or wet
regions, but some are found in seasonally dry areas.
Although Heliconias flourish in the humid lowland
tropics at elevations below 1500 feet, surprisingly,
the greatest number of species are found in middle
elevation rain and cloud forest habitats. The most
remarkable members of the genus inhabit open sites
in secondary growth along roads, riverbanks and
in patches of light in the forest.
POLINATORS
In
the American Tropics, hummingbirds are the exclusive
polinators of red, yellow , pink and orange heliconias
while nectar feeding bats are the polinators of green
heliconias.
BOTANICAL
RELATIVES-TAXONOMY.
THE
ORDER ZINGIBERALES.
Heliconia
is the only genus in the plant family heliconiacea,
which is a member of a larger taxonomic category
called the order Zingiberales. There are several
very obvious characteristics by which they can be
recognized, including large leaves and large, colorful,
bracteate inflorecences. Most taxonomists recognize
eight separate families in the zingiberales : Musacea
(Bananas),Strelitziacea (Bird of Paradise), Lowiacea,
Heliconiacea (Heliconias), Zingiberacea (Gingers),
Costacea (Costus), Cannacea (Cannas) and Marantacea
(Prayer Plants).