Heliconia
(from Helicon, a mountain in Greece, consecrated to the Muses). ORD. Scitamineae. A genus allied to Musa, containing about twenty-five species, all of which are natives of the tropical regions of the Western hemisphere. They are ornamental, but rarely-grown, stove herbaceous perennials, with inconspicuous flowers, borne on short spathes, and handsome foliage. Heliconias may be propagated from seed, but the best method is by division of the root-stock when growth commences in spring. Separate pieces may be inserted in 5in. pots, and grown on rapidly in a moist stove temperature, repotting into larger sizes as becomes requisite; or they may be planted out in the stove, if desired. A rich, loamy, open soil is best, and plenty of water should be applied during the growing season, withholding it when the plants die down, in winter. Shade must be given in summer, to prevent the sun injuring the foliage.
H. aureo-striata (golden-striped).* l. deep green, with the course of the parallel-curved veins from the costa to the margin traced out by yellow lines; elongate-ovate, cordate at the base. Stems striated with green and yellow. 1881. A noble plant. (I. H. n. s. 464.)
H. bicolor (two-coloured). fl. white, tripped with greenish; ovaries and spathes scarlet. l. long-stalked, gracefully arching. Brazil. (R. G. 172.)
H. Bihai (Bihai).* fl. red or orange-colour. July and August. l. on long petioles, ovate-lanceolate, some of which are slightly curved towards the edges. h. 12ft. West Indies, 1786. A handsome and graceful foliage plant. (B. R. 374.)
H. brevispatha (short-spathed). fl. white; spike short, of not more than four or five orange-red spathes, of which the inferior one is flowerless; the rest are much smaller and gradually shorter upwards. Summer. l. oblong, rather obtuse at the base, much acuminated at the apex, quite glabrous; petioles short. h. 3ft. South America, 1861. A very singular plant. (B. M. 5416.) H. humilis (humble). fl. whitish-green, sessile; spathes five to seven, broadly boat-shaped, many-flowered, scarlet. l. oblong, acute at both ends; petioles long, exceeding the scape. Guiana, 1867. (B. M. 5613.)
H. metallica (metallic). l. elegantly drooping and recurved, broadly lanceolate; central rib, margins, and curving veins of a dark bronzy-red, which is also the colour of the under surface; petioles distichous, bronzy-red. New Grenada, 1862. (B. M. 5315.)
H. psittacorum (parrot-beaked).* fl. orange, in clusters upon short peduncles, within a lanceolate spathe. August. l. smooth, shining, alternate, lanceolate-elliptic, acuminate, many-nerved; footstalks membranous, sheathing the stem. Stem polished, straight, round; upper part naked; lower part clothed with leaves. h. 8ft. (in cultivation, 3ft). Jamaica, 1797. A beautiful plant. (B. M. 502.)
H. triumphans (triumphant).* l. oblong-acute, dark green, picked out with narrow blackish stripes running from the midrib to the margin at distant intervals. Introduced to Europe from Sumatra, in 1883 (but probably of New World origin). (G. C. n. s., xix., p. 565.)
H. vinosa (wine-red). l. large, broadly oblong, 1 1/2ft. long, acuminated, bright green above, purplish beneath; upper surface transversely plicate or ridged. Stem slender, greenish. Columbia, 1871.