Heliconia is a colorful flower of the tropical rain forest. There are hundreds of species (kinds) of Heliconia. They are common in Central and South America . They are also found on some islands in the South Pacific Ocean .
Heliconia may grow from 1 to 30 feet (30 centimeters to 10 meters) tall. It has large bracts that resemble bird beaks. A bract is a modified leaf structure at the base of a flower. Heliconia bracts can be green, orange, pink, red, yellow, or a combination of these. Small flowers are found inside the bracts. The flower is nearly hidden, enabling only specialized pollinators to reach the sweet nectar. Pollinators are animals that help spread the pollen of flowers, often by feeding on their nectar. In the American tropics, hummingbirds are probably the only animals that pollinate Heliconias. In the South Pacific, Heliconias are pollinated by other birds and by bats.
In addition to pollinators, many other living things rely on Heliconia for survival. For example, the Honduran white bat cuts into the plant’s leaves, making a tentlike structure for shelter. Also, water collects in the bracts, providing habitat for tiny living things.
