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Heliconia bihai

(L.) L. (1771)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Zingiberales Family: Heliconiaceae Genus: Heliconia

jacquinii heliconia, lobster claw

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Perennial herbs 1–2 m tall.

Stems: Pseudostems.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Longest blade 100–250 cm long, 20–40 cm wide. Surfaces green. Margins entire. Petiolate and sheathing, petioles 50–115 cm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers 10–20 in an erect inflorescences (cincinnus) up to 60 cm long (exc. peduncle); rachis red, cincinnal bracts reddish orange with green margins and apex, 12–25 cm long, 11–13 cm wide at base, distichous, 5–12 per inflorescence, glabrous, margins straight, middle bract with apex acuminate. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Calyx of 2 connate abaxial sepals and 1 nearly distinct adaxial sepal. Perianth white basally to pale green toward apex, 5.5–6.5 cm long, glabrous. Fertile stamens 5, staminode 1; opposite distinct sepal; filaments linear, attached to base of perianth tube; anthers tetrathecal, opening longitudinally. Ovary inferior, white, glabrous. 3-celled; ovules 1 per cell, erect; style 1.

Fruit: Drupes blue; glabrous. Seeds surrounded by a stony; roughened endocarp (pyrenes); embryo straight; endosperm copious.

Ploidy: 2n = 24

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Only found in cultivation
Maui Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Notes

  • 1941 (Neal s.n., BISH).
  • Native to the Caribbean and South America; in Hawai'i cultivated as an ornamental, now naturalized along the Hana Highway, Maui. Cultivated on O'ahu as early as 1941. This species is one of the most taxonomically complex in the genus. Many variations in size and inflorescence coloration exist throughout its native range. Some distinct geographical races, many of which are in cultivation in Hawai'i, may deserve varietal status.

Bibliography

Name Published In: Mant. Pl. 2: 211 (1771)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1441 (EM); Staples & Herbst 2005:662 (KEY), 663 (DESCR); Faccenda 2024b:126 (O)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. waimea arboretum exotic vegetation; modified by ancient Polynesians PRESERVED_SPECIMEN lau, j. collector number: 2758 Hawaii BISH 8/18/1986
2 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Pua O. Entabeni, HC 1 370 Hana Hwy (Private land holding) Cultivated PRESERVED_SPECIMEN C. R. Annable 3155 NY 11/22/1996
3 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Wahiawa Botanical Gardens. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Teraoka, W.; Whiteaker, L. 320 Oahu US 7/3/1980
4 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Nagata, K. M. 542 Oahu US 6/25/1969
5 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. East Maui, Pua O. Entabeni, HC 1 370 Hana Highway, Haiku PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Annable, C.R. Van Sickle, G.; Van Sickle, H. Collector Number: 3165 Maui BISH 11/24/1996
6 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. East Maui, Hana District, 2 miles past Keanae (Hana side) off Hana Highway In shade. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Ishikawa, S. 191 Maui BISH 12/20/1972
7 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. East Maui, Pua O. Entabeni, HC 1 370 Hana Highway, Haiku PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Annable, C.R. 3165 Maui BISH 11/24/1996
8 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN thompson brown, f. collector number: 1251 Hawaii BISH 5/1/1925
9 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. wahiawa botanical gardens PRESERVED_SPECIMEN teraoka, w. whiteaker, l. collector number: 320 Oahu BISH 7/3/1980
10 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Wahiawa Botanical Gardens PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Teraoka, W. 320 Oahu BISH 7/3/1980
11 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Waimea Arboretum In full sun. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Lau, J. 2758 Oahu BISH 8/18/1986
12 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Molokai Community College farm In 50' row surrounded by windbreaks on all sides. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Evans, M. M-48 Molokai BISH 7/5/1990
13 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Waimea Arboretum & Botanical Garden In full sun. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Lau, J. 2860 Oahu BISH 9/23/1986
14 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. 42 Coelho Way PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Neal, M.C. s.n. Oahu BISH 6/18/1941
15 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Waimea Arboretum In full sun. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Lau, J. 2751 Oahu BISH 8/18/1986
16 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Thompson 1251 Oahu BISH 5/1/1925
17 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. 42 coelho way Drift material. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN neal, m.c. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 6/18/1941
18 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. waimea arboretum & botanical garden Shaded rocky dirt bank along road w/ planted Myrtaceae PRESERVED_SPECIMEN lau, j. collector number: 2860 Maui BISH 9/23/1986
19 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. waimea arboretum & botanical garden In full sun. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN lau, j. collector number: 2860 Oahu BISH 9/23/1986
20 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Thompson Brown, F. Collector Number: 1251 Oahu BISH 5/1/1925
21 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. molokai community college farm In 50' row surrounded by windbreaks on all sides. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN evans, m. collector number: m-48 Molokai BISH 7/5/1990
22 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Honolulu Cultivated PRESERVED_SPECIMEN C. R. Annable 3155 Oahu HAPI 11/22/1996
23 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Oahu Island, Manoa Arboretum Cultivated PRESERVED_SPECIMEN C. R. Annable 3165 Oahu HAPI 11/24/1996
24 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. waimea arboretum exotic vegetation; modified by ancient Polynesians PRESERVED_SPECIMEN lau, j. collector number: 2758 Hawaii BISH 8/18/1986
25 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Pua O. Entabeni, HC 1 370 Hana Hwy (Private land holding) Cultivated PRESERVED_SPECIMEN C. R. Annable 3155 NY 11/22/1996
26 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Wahiawa Botanical Gardens. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Teraoka, W.; Whiteaker, L. 320 Oahu US 7/3/1980
27 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Nagata, K. M. 542 Oahu US 6/25/1969
28 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. East Maui, Pua O. Entabeni, HC 1 370 Hana Highway, Haiku PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Annable, C.R. Van Sickle, G.; Van Sickle, H. Collector Number: 3165 Maui BISH 11/24/1996
29 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. East Maui, Hana District, 2 miles past Keanae (Hana side) off Hana Highway In shade. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Ishikawa, S. 191 Maui BISH 12/20/1972
30 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. East Maui, Pua O. Entabeni, HC 1 370 Hana Highway, Haiku PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Annable, C.R. 3165 Maui BISH 11/24/1996
31 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN thompson brown, f. collector number: 1251 Hawaii BISH 5/1/1925
32 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. wahiawa botanical gardens PRESERVED_SPECIMEN teraoka, w. whiteaker, l. collector number: 320 Oahu BISH 7/3/1980
33 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Wahiawa Botanical Gardens PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Teraoka, W. 320 Oahu BISH 7/3/1980
34 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Waimea Arboretum In full sun. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Lau, J. 2758 Oahu BISH 8/18/1986
35 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Molokai Community College farm In 50' row surrounded by windbreaks on all sides. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Evans, M. M-48 Molokai BISH 7/5/1990
36 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Waimea Arboretum & Botanical Garden In full sun. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Lau, J. 2860 Oahu BISH 9/23/1986
37 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. 42 Coelho Way PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Neal, M.C. s.n. Oahu BISH 6/18/1941
38 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Waimea Arboretum In full sun. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Lau, J. 2751 Oahu BISH 8/18/1986
39 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Thompson 1251 Oahu BISH 5/1/1925
40 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. 42 coelho way Drift material. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN neal, m.c. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 6/18/1941
41 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. waimea arboretum & botanical garden Shaded rocky dirt bank along road w/ planted Myrtaceae PRESERVED_SPECIMEN lau, j. collector number: 2860 Maui BISH 9/23/1986
42 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. waimea arboretum & botanical garden In full sun. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN lau, j. collector number: 2860 Oahu BISH 9/23/1986
43 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Thompson Brown, F. Collector Number: 1251 Oahu BISH 5/1/1925
44 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. molokai community college farm In 50' row surrounded by windbreaks on all sides. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN evans, m. collector number: m-48 Molokai BISH 7/5/1990
45 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Honolulu Cultivated PRESERVED_SPECIMEN C. R. Annable 3155 Oahu HAPI 11/22/1996
46 Heliconia bihai (L.) L. Oahu Island, Manoa Arboretum Cultivated PRESERVED_SPECIMEN C. R. Annable 3165 Oahu HAPI 11/24/1996
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