Heliconia rostrata (False bird of paradise)

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Heliconia rostrata Ruiz & Pav.

False bird of paradise, hanging lobster claw, painted lobster claw

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Liliopsida	Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
Subclass	Zingiberidae	Gingers and related plants
Order	Zingiberales	Ginger, cardamom, turmeric, galangal, myoga, bananas, arrowroot, and others
Family	Heliconiaceae	Heliconia family
Genus	Heliconia	From the Greek word helikonios, home of a temple of Poseidon
Species	rostrata	“Beaked,” from Latin rostrum, “a bill, snout, or beak”

About plant names...

These striking heliconias are native to western South America. They escaped cultivation in Florida.

Identification: Plants are 6½-9½' (2-3 m) in height. Leaves are on long petioles, 3-5' (1-1.5 m) × 10-14" (25-35 cm), green or bluish-green, sometimes tinged with red, apex tapering abruptly to a tip. Flowerheads are hanging, 12-24" (30-60 cm) × 6" (15 cm). Bracts are bright or dull red, widely spaced, up to 6" (15 cm) long. The flowers are pale yellow or greenish yellow, and composed of six fused tepals.

Online References:

Hawaiian Plants and Tropical Flowers

Www.costaricaphotos.com

References:

Fayaz, Ahmed, Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants: Identification and Cultivation of Over 3000 Tropical Plants, Firefly Books, 2011, p. 305

Heliconia rostrata description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

7/29/2023 · Guam · By Jacquelyn Boyt

11/9/2005 · Costa Rica · By Philip A. Despo

Range: Zones 10-12:

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