Plant biologists know that although most Heliconias reach their peak vegetative splendor in the low, humid areas of the tropics, a large percentage of the species are usually found at mid-elevation, in humid cloud forest habitats. The more conspicuous species usually inhabit open areas of secondary growth, along riverbanks or roadsides, or in open areas of tropical rainforest.
▶ Heliconias are assumed to be the only genus in the Heliconiaceae family, they are members of a large botanical order called the Zinginberales order, within which there are several characteristics that make this an easily recognized order, among these characteristics we can include long leaves and large inflorescences of colorful colors, most taxonomists recognize eight families in the Zinginberales order.
▶ Credits: Len Worthington – [Image of Public Domain]
They are herbaceous and perennial plants native to tropical regions, the pollination of certain species is ensured by hummingbirds and hermits, some species of this family as well as their varieties and hybrids are cultivated for the production of cut flowers due to the beauty, color and resistance of their inflorescences.
For taxonomists, heliconias, birds of paradise, achiras, gingers and other plants known as platanillos are botanically grouped in the order Zinginberales, this order is composed of eight families: Heliconiaceae, Cannaceae, Strelitziaceae, Musaceae, Costaceae, Lowiaceae, Marantacea and Zingiberaceae.
I will mention that previously, the group of plants belonging to the family Heliconiaceae were placed in the family Musaceae; however, Nakai in 1941 separated them as Heliconiaceae, later, Kress in 1994 proposed a new classification system in subgenera and sections, based on morphological, ecological and genetic characteristics.