Family · Monocots

Heliconiaceae

Heliconias

Single genus of large tropical American herbs with vivid boat-shaped bracts pollinated by hummingbirds.

Accepted species: 204accepted names · Kew WCVP
Genus: 1accepted genus · Kew WCVP
Origin: ≈42 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
Centre of diversity: Southern Americamost native species · WGSRPD

Open Heliconiaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.

Plants you might know

Heliconia
Lobster claw
False bird of paradise

Its genus

Heliconia204 spp.

Where it grows

Southern America193
Northern America17
Asia-Tropical4
Pacific3

Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.

Related families

Heliconiaceae sits in the order Zingiberales.