Heliconia

Heliconia ( Heliconia spp.)

Heliconia ( Heliconia ), also known as lobster claw or false bird of paradise flowers, the only genus of the family of Helikoniengewächse ( Heliconiaceae ) in the order of the ginger -like are ( Zingiberales ). The genus includes 100-225 species, including some ornamental plants. The name derives from the Greek Mount Helicon, the seat of the Muses, probably because the buds are so decorative.

Description

Habit and foliage leaves

Heliconia species grow as large, evergreen, perennial herbaceous plants. They form, usually branched short, rarely stoloniferous, rhizomes from which store starch. It is usually formed only an unbranched " pseudostem ". The aboveground plant parts are often hairy.

The mostly alternate and distichous, only basal or distributed on the stem arranged leaves are parallel-veined and are differentiated in leaf sheath, petiole and leaf blade; in some species no petiole is visible. The overlapping leaf sheaths form the " pseudo- root ".

Inflorescences and flowers

At the end of each " pseudostem " a very large, decorative Total racemose inflorescence is formed which is little - to many-flowered partial inflorescences composed of several monochasialen zymösen. There are species with hanging and those with upright inflorescences. The most attractive are the conspicuously colored bracts ( bracts ). There are keeled bracts present.

The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic and threefold. All six bracts are fused Roehrig at their base. The three sepals and two petals are also above this flower tube still overgrown. A petal is made ​​free to the base. Per flower, there are five fertile stamens and a flaky Staminodium. The fertile stamens are fused with the basal flower tube. Three carpels are a inferior ovary adherent to one ovule per ovary chamber. There are Septalnektarien available. The elongated, thin style ends in a capitate or three or rarely bilobed scar. The flowers of bird -pollinated species are very rich in nectar and sometimes smell. The pollinated Fledertieren species bloom only at night and not smell; they usually have green bracts and green or white bloom.

The flowers formula is:

Fruit and seeds

The blue, red or orange when ripe stone fruits each contain only one to three seeds. It is thin, oily and starchy endosperm present, which also contains aleurone. The diasporas are the stone fruit, they are eaten by animals and the seeds excreted undigested and so widespread; it is mainly birds.

Sets of chromosomes and ingredients

Data on the chromosomes are only a part of the species; the most 2n = 24 have.

All parts of the plant contain tannin.

Ecology

Heliconias are of a wide range of animals pollinated ( Zoogamie ), of which most species by birds. Hummingbirds pollinate all Neotropical species, many of honeyeater species occurring in Polynesia. The show both the colors of the bracts and the copious production of nectar. Some mammals are involved in pollination, especially long tongue bats at the westernmost heliconia species. However, at the vogelblütigen ways without pollinate - The Pacific rat (Rattus exulans ) visited the flowers.

Development history, distribution and locations

The development of Helikoniaceae within the Zingiberales was relatively late and is dated to about 32 million years ago. The common ancestor of Helikoniaceae, Strelitziaceae, Lowiaceae one dated to about 109 million years ago. Can be executed only reached through distance spread recently there as this group originated in the Neotropics, the oceanic Heliconia species.

The Heliconiaceae family owns a disjoint area. Most species occur in the Neotropics. Some species are native to Oceania, islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean, Melanesia from Samoa to Sulawesi.

Many species thrive in lowland rainforest below an altitude of 500 meters. The largest number of species thrives in the middle altitudes in rain or cloud forests. Only a few species are found at altitudes above 2000 meters. Most often you will find copies on ruderal sites such as along railway lines and there are often pioneer species after logging, or they are found on river banks. However, many species depend on shady locations in primary forests; Unfortunately, these species are often Lokalendemiten and each threatened with destruction of forests in harvesting of extinction.

System

The first publication of the genus Heliconia already took place in 1771 by Carl Linnaeus in Mantissa Plantarum Altera, 2: 147, 211 The Heliconiaceae family (A. Richard ) was Nakai of Nakai Takenoshin in Journal of Japanese Botany, 17: 201, in April 1941 published. Previously, the genus Heliconia was incorporated into the families of the Strelitziaceae or Musaceae.

The genus is of Kress (1984, 1990, 1994 ) and Andersson (1981, 1985, 1992) into five genera and about 23 divided sections. There are about 200 species of Heliconia:

• Heliconia subgenus: With six sections and about 33 species. Section Heliconia: Heliconia aurea Rodríguez
• Scarlet Lobster Claw ( Heliconia bihai (L.) L.): History: West Indies
• Heliconia bourgaeana O.G.Peters.
• Heliconia caribaea Lam. Heimat: West Indies
• Heliconia champneiana Griggs
• Heliconia lennartiana W.J.Kress
• Heliconia orthotricha L. Anderss.
• Heliconia rodriguensis Aristeg.
• Bananenblättrige Lobster Claw ( Heliconia stricta Huber): History: tropical South America
• Three-colored Lobster Claw ( Heliconia wagneriana OGPeters. ): History: Costa Rica, Panama

• Heliconia episcopalis Vell.

• Heliconia beckneri R.R.Smith
• Heliconia cucullata W.J.Kress & L.Anderss.
• Heliconia faunorum W.J.Kress & L.Anderss.
• Heliconia irrasa R.R.Smith
• Heliconia latispatha Benth. Homeland: Southern Mexico, Central America
• Heliconia lindsayana W.J.Kress
• Heliconia lutea W.J.Kress
• Heliconia monteverdensis Daniels & Stiles
• Heliconia sarapiquensis Daniels & Stiles
• Heliconia spathocircinata Aristeg.
• Heliconia thomasiana W.J.Kress
• Heliconia tortuosa Griggs
• Heliconia umbrophila Daniels & Stiles

• Heliconia barryana W.J.Kress
• Heliconia clinophila R.R.Smith
• Heliconia darienensis L.Anderss.
• Heliconia farinosa Raddi
• Heliconia gracilis Daniels & Stiles
• Heliconia ignescens Daniels & Stiles
• Heliconia kautzkiana Emygdio & Santos
• Heliconia lankesteri Standlschmaus.
• Heliconia Librata Griggs
• Heliconia rodriguezii Stiles
• Heliconia sampaioana L.Emygdio
• Heliconia velloziana L.Emygdio

• Heliconia atratensis abalone & Morales
• Heliconia brenneri abalone & Morales
• Heliconia foreroi abalone & Morales

• Heliconia lourteigiae Emygdio & Santos
• Heliconia tenebrosa Macbr.

• Heliconia atropurpurea Daniels & Stiles
• Heliconia bella W.J.Kress
• Heliconia imbricata ( Kuntze ) Baker
• Heliconia reticulata ( Griggs ) Winkl.

• Heliconia indica Lam. Homeland: India, Java, Fiji Islands
• Heliconia lanata ( Green ) W.J.Kress
• Heliconia laufao W.J.Kress
• Heliconia paka A.C.Smith
• Heliconia papuana W.J.Kress
• Heliconia solomonensis W.J.Kress

• Subgenus Stenochlamys Baker: Section Lanea L.Anderss. : Heliconia adflexa ( Griggs ) Standlschmaus.
• Heliconia aemygdiana BurleMarx
• Heliconia aristeguietae abalone & Morales
• Heliconia burleana abalone & Morales
• Heliconia fugax L.Anderss.
• Heliconia gaiboriana abalone & Morales
• Heliconia gilbertiana abalone & Morales
• Heliconia gloriosa abalone & Morales
• Heliconia impudica abalone & Morales
• Heliconia laneana Barreiros
• Heliconia lingulata Ruiz & Pav
• Heliconia lophocarpa Daniels & Stiles
• Heliconia meridensis Kl
• Heliconia Mincana abalone & Morales
• Heliconia pseudoaemygdiana Emygdio & Santos
• Heliconia schiedeana Kl
• Heliconia spissa Griggs
• Heliconia virginalis abalone & Morales
• Heliconia willisiana abalone & Morales
• Heliconia zebrina Plowman, Kress & Kennedy: History: Peru

• Heliconia acuminata L.C.Rich.
• Heliconia angusta Vell. Homeland: Brazil
• Heliconia brachyantha L.Anderss.
• Parrot Lobster Claw ( Heliconia psittacorum L. f ): History: West Indies, Guyana, Braslilien, Paraguay
• Heliconia richardiana Miq.
• Heliconia sylvestris ( Gleason ) L.B.Smith
• Heliconia tarumaensis Barr.
• Heliconia timothei L.Anderss.

• Heliconia densiflora Verlot

• Heliconia dasyantha Koch & Bouché
• Heliconia estherae abalone & Morales
• Heliconia julianii Barreiros
• Heliconia lasiorachis L.Anderss.
• Heliconia velutina L.Anderss.

• Heliconia berryi abalone & Morales
• Heliconia calatheaphylla Daniels & Stiles
• Heliconia mathiasiae Daniels & Stiles
• Heliconia metallica Pl & Linden ex. Hook:. Native Panama, tropical South America
• Heliconia osaensis Cuf.
• Heliconia pardoi abalone & Morales
• Heliconia sanctaemartae L.Anderss.
• Heliconia subulata Ruiz & Pav
• Heliconia vaginalis Benth.
• Heliconia venusta abalone & Morales

• Heliconia aurantiaca Ghiesbr. ex Lemaire: History: Guatemala
• Heliconia apparicioi Barreiros
• Heliconia cordata L.Anderss.
• Heliconia crassa Griggs
• Heliconia hirsuta L. f
• Heliconia longiflora R.R.Smith
• Heliconia schumanniana Loes.
• Heliconia tarcarcunae L.Anderss.

• Section Griggsia W.J.Kress, ined. : Heliconia gigantea W.J.Kress & J.Betancur
• Heliconia griggsiana L.B.Smith
• Heliconia paludigena abalone & Morales
• Heliconia pastazae L.Anderss.
• Heliconia titanum W.J.Kress & J.Betancur

• Heliconia danielsiana W.J.Kress
• Heliconia Lutheran W.J.Kress
• Heliconia magnifica W.J.Kress
• Heliconia markiana abalone & Morales
• Heliconia peteriana abalone & Morales
• Heliconia pogonantha Cuf.
• Heliconia ramonensis Daniels & Stiles
• Heliconia regalis L.Anderss.
• Heliconia rhodantha abalone & Morales
• Heliconia sanctaetheresae abalone & Morales
• Heliconia vellerigera Poepp.
• Heliconia xanthovillosa W.J.Kress

• Heliconia curtispatha Peters.
• Heliconia nigripraefixa Dodson & Gentry

• Heliconia excelsa L.Anderss.
• Heliconia harlingii L.Anderss.
• Heliconia longa ( Griggs ) Winkler
• Heliconia mariae Hook. f: History: Central America, Venezuela, Colombia
• Heliconia stilesii W.J.Kress

• Heliconia abaloi G.Morales
• Heliconia chrysocraspeda abalone & Morales
• Heliconia combinata abalone & Morales
• Heliconia estiletioides abalone & Morales
• Heliconia fragilis abalone & Morales
• Heliconia fredberryana W.J.Kress
• Heliconia laxa abalone & Morales
• Heliconia lozanoi abalone & Morales
• Heliconia mutisiana Cuatrecasas
• Heliconia nariniensis abalone & Morales
• Heliconia nitida abalone & Morales
• Heliconia obscura abalone & Morales
• Heliconia obscuroides L.Anderss.
• Heliconia robusta Pax

• Heliconia arrecta W. J. Kress & J.Betancur
• Heliconia huilensis abalone & Morales
• Heliconia mucilagina abalone & Morales
• Heliconia spiralis abalone & Morales

• Heliconia badilloi abalone & Morales
• Heliconia berriziana abalone & Morales
• Heliconia caquetensis abalone & Morales
• Heliconia colgantea R.R.Smith ex Daniels & Stiles
• Heliconia dielsiana Loes.
• Heliconia intermedia abalone & Morales
• Heliconia lentiginosa abalone & Morales
• Heliconia maculata W.J.Kress
• Heliconia necrobracteata W.J.Kress
• Heliconia oleosa abalone & Morales
• Heliconia penduloides Loes.
• Heliconia reptans abalone & Morales
• Heliconia robertoi abalone & Morales
• Heliconia sclerotricha abalone & Morales
• Heliconia signahispanica abalone & Morales
• Heliconia talamancana Daniels & Stiles
• Heliconia trichocarpa Daniels & Stiles

• Heliconia juruana Loes.
• Heliconia marginata ( Griggs ) Pittier
• Lobster Claw ( Heliconia rostrata Ruiz & Pav ): History: tropical South America
• Heliconia standleyi Macbr.

• Heliconia chartacea Lane ex Barreiros
• Heliconia collinsiana Griggs
• Heliconia fernandezii abalone & Morales
• Heliconia mooreana R.R.Smith
• Heliconia pendula Wawra
• Heliconia platystachys Baker
• Heliconia rigida abalone & Morales
• Heliconia riopalenquensis Dodson & A.Gentry
• Heliconia villosa Kl

• Heliconia nutans Woodson
• Heliconia secunda Daniels & Stiles

• Heliconia donstonea W.J.Kress & J.Betancur
• Heliconia holmquistiana abalone & Morales
• Heliconia stella maris abalone & Morales
• Heliconia terciopela W.J.Kress & J.Betancur

Use

Since the 18th century, some species and varieties are popular exotic ornamental plants. Also known as long-lasting cut flowers, some varieties are highly sought after. There are a number of varieties.

As a food, they hardly serve, rarely burgeoning inflorescences are eaten cooked at a food shortage. Sometimes the large leaves are used (similar to banana leaves ) as a sheath when cooking food.