Heliconia
page provided by: Jan Meerman
Heliconia species are medium to large herbs
related to banana's. The inflorescence is often large
and attractive and many Heliconia's are grown
for use in flower arrangements. The inflorescence
is almost always terminal on erect, leafy shoots.
It has either an erect or pendent orientation (erect
in the diagram to the right), with respect to the
leafy shoot from which it emerges. The inflorescence
is made up of the peduncle and modified leaflike structures
known as bracts (or spathes), the rachis connecting
adjacent bracts. Within each bract there is a coil
of inconspicuous flowers. The fruits also develop
within the bracts. The bracts are often filled with
water and form a distinctive aquatic micro-ecosystem.
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Picture
gallery of Heliconia species found in Belize:
Click the images
to get a larger picture
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Heliconia aurantiaca Ghiesbr.
Smaller species (1.5 m - 5 ft) with a compact, relatively
small, erect inflorescence. Found in the forest understory,
usually on limestone based soils. This species does
not tolerate heavy clearing and disturbance. Found
in the Cayo and Toledo Districts.
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Heliconia bourgaeana Petersen
Large species with erect inflorescence.
The color of the bracts varies from mottled red to
pure yellow. The yellow variety is know as var. "Maya
Gold". Distributed in the Cayo, Stann Creek and
Toledo districts.
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Heliconia collinsiana Griggs
Large plant (3 m - 10 ft) with pendant reddish pink
inflorescence. Unmistakable because of the white,
waxy undercoating of the leaves. Growing under disturbed
conditions in the Stann Creek and Toledo districts.
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Heliconia latispatha Benth.
The most common Heliconia in
Belize. Found in all districts (except Corozal?) in
lowland under open, disturbed and moist conditions.
The erect inflorescence is orange. Occasionally red
specimens are found.
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Heliconia librata Griggs.
Medium sized species with yellow, erect
inflorescence. Uncommon. Within Belize known only
from forest habitats in the Stann Creek and Toledo
districts.
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Heliconia mariae Hook.
Huge plant (> 3 1/2m - 12 ft) with
pendent inflorescence. The inflorescence is not as
attractive as most other species. Within Belize it's
distribution is limited to a distinct area in the
Toledo district. But there very common and a terrible
weed in disturbed areas.
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Heliconia spissa Griggs.
Distinctive species. Recognizable even
when not in flower by the ragged looking leaves. Typical
of limestonehills. Distributed in the Orange Walk,
Belize, Cayo and Toledo districts.
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Heliconia vaginalis mathiasiae
(Daniels & Stiles) L. Anderson
Relatively small species (< 2m -
7 ft). Usually found inside forests on slightly acidic
soils. Not capable of surviving open, heavily disturbed
conditions. Found in Belize, Cayo, Stann Creek and
Toledo districts.
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Heliconia wagneriana Petersen.
Medium sized species. Inflorescence erect. Relatively
common in disturbed areas. Found only in the Toledo
district.
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Heliconia cf. tortuosa
Griggs
Recently discovered in the Columbia
River Forest Reserve in the Toledo district. Identification
somewhat uncertain. This is a relatively low plant
(1 m - 3ft). The bright red inflorescence is erect.
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Heliconia unidentified
species
Recently discovered in the Mayflower
Bocawina National Park. This species keys out
to H.tortuosa, but is still quite different
from the above Columbia River Forest Reserve species.
Most notably, the inflorescence is larger and the
whole plant is very tall (3 1/2 m - 12 ft). All in
all this is a much more elegant plant. The inflorescence
is orange-red. The sepals, ovaries and pedicels are
all yellow. Young shoots have white waxy coating.
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Heliconia
rostrata Ruiz & Pavon
The well known "Crabsclaw"
or "Lobsterclaw". Not a native species,
but probably the most widely planted ornamental Heliconia
in Belize. The spectacular inflorescence is pendent.
Successfully reproduces from seed and tends to get
established in near areas where it is being cultivated.
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