Heliconia bihai
Family: Heliconiaceae
Origin: Central & South America
Location: Tropical glasshouse
Accession: 1982
Heliconia bihai is an erect herbaceous
plant up to 5m tall with leaf blades to 60cm, native to northern South America
and the West Indies. It is typically pollinated by bats and hummingbirds. Its flower
is an inflorescence with 7-12 upward-facing bright red bracts which hold
rainwater used by birds and insects.
Thanks to Maggie Gowland for photographs
