	Carla's Heliconia Garden

Heliconias

NAME

Heliconia talamancana

The leaves are long and slim.

The inflorescence is sort of camouflaged - we didn't see it at first.

The markings on the stems.

habit: musoid
height: 5.3 meters
leaf blade: 100 centimeters
leaf blade: 200 - 27 L - W in centimeters
color notes: lenticular spots on stem
stems per clump: 6
comment: The plant has a tendency to lean, like trichocarpa (to which it bears other resemblances).

form: pendant
orientation: spiral
bract color: yellow proximally, green distally
rachis: yellow opposite bract, brick red above bract
number of bracts: 11
overall length: 66 centimeters
bract size: middle; 30 - 4 L - W in centimeters
flower color: cream proximally, pale green distally
ovary: cream, slightly fuzzy
comment: Bract length from longest to shortest, 75, 36, 30, 23, 20, 16, 13, 11, 9, (missing the tip by the time I measured).

accession number: 2004-07-08-01
location: Costa Rica, Limon province, Bribrí, Volio
climate: Atlantic
soil type: intermediate clay/loam
shade percent: 50 %
habitat notes: Primary forest managed by indigenous group. H. talamancana was growing in forest gap after a single tree was felled for lumber (allowed on a tree-by-tree permit basis by the tribe).
common at this location: Not particularly, though we saw smaller plants which seemed to be waiting for their own forest gaps to open up.

date planted: 10-08-04
number of rhizomes: 2
where planted: below entry near musas overhanging trail; below new lingulata in front of house near trail
comment: Both plants are sprouting.