Heliconia section Episcopales L. Anderss.

Kress, W. John, Fér, Tomáš & Carlsen, Mónica M., 2025, Phylogenomics and a new classification of the tropical genus Heliconia L. (Monocots, Zingiberales, Heliconiaceae), PhytoKeys 251, pp. 37-66 : 37-66

1.5. 8. Heliconia section Episcopales L. Anderss. , Opera Bot. 111: 34. 1992.

Figs 5 I, J

Type.

Heliconia episcopalis Vell.

Description and taxonomic notes.

Medium- to large-sized rhizomatous herbs with Musa - like habit. Inflorescence pendent or erect, with peduncle and rachis generally red and cincinnal bracts red to pink with green towards tip; cincinnal bracts distichous or rarely spirally arranged, moderated separated (rarely congested). Flowers with diurnal anthesis, not resupinate and fully enclosed in bracts; perianth with medium-sized tube, uniformly curved, white to yellow, glabrous; ovary white to yellow, glabrous. Fruits blue, glabrous. Nearly all of the species in sect. Episcopales (earlier referred to as “ sect. Rostratae ined. ” by Kress et al. 1999) have been considered as closely related because of their shared pendent inflorescences and flower features. The placement in this group of H. episcopalis Vell. with an erect inflorescence and congested bracts suggests that this inflorescence type has an independent evolutionary origin in this lineage. The closest relatives of H. penduloides Loes. have always been puzzling, but the 0.97 LPP support clearly unites these six species into a monophyletic group.

Species.

* Heliconia episcopalis Vell. ; * H. juruana Loes. ; * H. marginata (Griggs) Pittier ; * H. penduloides Loes ; * H. rostrata Ruiz & Pav. ; * H. standleyi Macbr.

Distribution.

Tropical Central and South America ( Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela).

Figures

Figure 5. Representatives of one subgenus and five sections in the new classification of Heliconia A – L subgenus Heliconia A, B sect. Lanea: A H. lingulata B H. zebrina C, D sect. Griggsia: C H. gigantea D H. griggsiana E – H sect. Longae: E H. curtispatha F H. longa G H. mariae H H. atratensis I, J sect. Episcopales: I H. episcopalis J H. rostrata K, L sect. Pastazae: K H. pastazae L H. rigida.