What is Heliconia?
{{Taxobox | name = ''Heliconia'' | image = Heliconia latispatha (Starwiz).jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = Heliconia latispatha | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Liliopsida]] | ordo = [[Zingiberales]] | familia = '''Heliconiaceae''' | genus = '''''Heliconia''''' | genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]] <!-- | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text. --> }} [[File:Starr 070906-8370 Heliconia stricta.jpg|thumb|250px|left|{{center|1=Heliconia stricta (Dwarf Jamaican leaf). Location: Maui, Kula Ace Hardware and Nursery.}}]] '''Heliconia''' is a [[genus (biology)|genus]] of flowering [[plant]]s. They are native tropical [[South America]], as well as the [[Pacific|Pacific Ocean Islands]] west to [[Indonesia]]. There are between 100 and 200 [[species]] in the genus. Other common names include '''lobster-claw''', '''wild plantain''' and '''false bird-of-paradise'''. The plants have very decorative flowers. For this reason they are often sold decorative plants. {{Biology-stub}} [[Category:Zingiberales]]