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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).
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