Heliconia rostrata
Hanging Lobster Claw False Bird of Paradise | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Monocots |
(unranked): | Commelinids |
Order: | Zingiberales |
Family: | Heliconiaceae |
Genus: | Heliconia |
Species: | H. rostrata |
Binomial name | |
Heliconia rostrata Ruiz & Pavon | |
Synonyms[1] | |
|
Heliconia rostrata (also known as Hanging Lobster Claw or False Bird of Paradise) is an herbaceous perennial native to Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador, and naturalized in Puerto Rico.[2] Other Heliconias grow in the upright position (e.g. Heliconia bihai), their cup-shaped flower bracts storing water for birds and insects. This plant, however, has downward-facing flowers, the flowers thus providing a source of nectar to birds.[3][4]
Heliconias are known to those who grow them as a host flower to many birds, especially the Hummingbird. Because of its unique characteristics, it is often used as a specimen for tropical gardens.
Along with the Kantuta flower, Heliconia rostrata, known as patujú, is the national flower of Bolivia.
References
- ↑ The Plant List, Heliconia rostrata
- ↑ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Heliconia rostrata
- ↑ Ruiz López, Hipólito & Pavón, José Antonio. 1802. Flora Peruviana, et Chilensis 3: 71, t. 305, Heliconia rostrata
- ↑ Brako, L. & J. L. Zarucchi. (eds.) 1993. Catalogue of the Flowering Plants and Gymnosperms of Peru. Monographs in systematic botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 45: i–xl, 1–1286.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heliconia rostrata. |
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, February 02, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.