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Conservation Status
IUCN: not evaluated
USFWS: None
Family: HELICONIACEAE Genus: Heliconia Species: indica Species Author: Lam.
Heliconia indica 'Spectabilis' is known for its beautiful, colorful foliage. This cultivar has two forms, which are sometimes found on the same plant. In one form the leaves have variegation of rose red, pink, or white lateral striations (stripes); in the other the leaves are green above with various shade of bronzy red below. The bracts are pale green with thin red margins or mottled red and green. In terms of foliage it is one of the most beautiful heliconias.
Heliconia indica 'Spectabilis' is native to the South Pacific islands from Vanuatu to Sulawesi, Indonesia.
In the American Tropics, hummingbirds are the exclusive polinators of red, yellow, pink and orange heliconias. In the Old World tropics, nectar feeding bats and certain birds are the polinators of green heliconias.
(Kepler, A. K. 1999. Exotic Tropicals of Hawaii.)
Heliconias are remarkable plants for the beauty of their flowers and foliage that seems to capture the essence of the tropics.
(Kepler, A. K. 1999. Exotic Tropicals of Hawaii.)
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.
(Kepler, A. K. 1999. Exotic Tropicals of Hawaii
We currently have 7 herbarium specimens for Heliconia indica in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.
