Heliconia tortuosa is an herbaceous tropical perennial commonly found in secondary succession in montane forests in Central America and southern Mexico (Chiapas and Tabasco).[2] It is moderately shade tolerant. It has also been widely cultivated as a garden plant for its showy, usually twisted (hence the name tortuosa) inflorescences.[3][4]
| Heliconia tortuosa | |
|---|---|
| H. tortuosa in Monteverde, Costa Rica | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Zingiberales |
| Family: | Heliconiaceae |
| Genus: | Heliconia |
| Species: | H. tortuosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Heliconia tortuosa | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Bihai tortuosa (Griggs) Griggs | |
Heliconia tortuosa is selective with its pollination, allowing only green hermit and violet sabrewing hummingbirds to pollinate its flowers.[5]
| Taxon identifiers |
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