Heliconia bihai

Heliconia bihai (red palulu) of the family Heliconiaceae is an erect herb typically growing taller than 1.5 m. It is native to northern South America and the West Indies. It is especially common in northern Brazil and the Guianas but also found in Hispaniola, Jamaica, the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Venezuela and Colombia.[1][2] Other names by which the plant is commonly known include balisier[3] and macawflower.

Red palulu
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Heliconiaceae
Genus: Heliconia
Species:
H. bihai
Binomial name
Heliconia bihai
(L.) L.
Synonyms[1]
  • Bihai bihai Griggs
  • Heliconia aurea R.Rodr.
  • Musa bihai L.

Uses
Flowers

This plant is used as an ornamental plant in hot regions with a humid climate (USDA zone 9-11), and is typically pollinated by bats and hummingbirds.[4]

This upward facing flower of the genus Heliconia, which acts as a cup, is a natural source of rain water for birds and insects.

Use as a symbol

This plant is used as the symbol to represent the People's National Movement political party of Trinidad and Tobago,[5] as well as by the Martinique Progressive Party (Parti Progressiste Martiniquais) of the French Overseas Department of Martinique, in the West Indies.

References
  1. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Heliconia bihai
  2. (in Portuguese) Checklist das Plantas do Nordeste (Checklist of Plants of Northeast Brazil): Heliconia bihai Archived 2007-03-11 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "HELICONIACEAE Heliconia bihai" at Plants For Use.
  4. (in Portuguese) Lorenzi, H.; Souza, M. S. (2001) Plantas Ornamentais no Brasil: arbustivas, herbáceas e trepadeiras. Plantarum Archived 2019-01-01 at the Wayback Machine ISBN 85-86714-12-7
  5. Ferreira, Ferdie (28 November 2011). "PNM and the balisier, the symbol of fertility". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019.
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