Heliconia subgenus Stenochlamys Baker

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

1.2. Heliconia subgenus Stenochlamys Baker , Ann. Bot. 7: 190, 194–200. 1893.

Figs 3 E – H

Type.

Heliconia psittacorum L. f. (designated by L. Andersson, Opera Bot. 82: 22. 1985).

Description and taxonomic notes.

Small- to medium-sized rhizomatous herbs with Musa - like (rarely Zingiber - like) habit. Inflorescence erect, with peduncle, rachis and cincinnal bracts of various colors from red to orange to yellow; cincinnal bracts distichous, generally long and tapering. Flowers with diurnal anthesis, partially to fully resupinate and held at right angles to bracts; perianth short-tubed, angular in cross-section, generally straight to slightly curved, free sepal generally only slightly curved, white to green to yellow, sometimes with green tips; ovary green to yellow to orange to red. Fruits blue, glabrous. The original Heliconia subgen. Stenochlamys of Baker included 17 species (note that some of these species are not recognized today). Andersson’s (1985 a) subgen. Stenochlamys was much expanded into a large and complex taxonomic entity with six sections. In the present classification only 15 species are recognized in two sections (sects. Stenochlamys and Angustae ) of the subgenus. Most of the remaining species are now found in subgen. Heliconia (sects. Lasia , Cannastrum , and Longiflorae ). The monophyly of subgen. Stenochlamys has 0.96 LPP support in the molecular analysis and is sister to the remaining three subgenera of Heliconia .

Distribution.

Tropical Central and South America ( Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela).

Figures

Figure 3. Representatives of three subgenera and six sections in the new classification of Heliconia A – D subgen. Heliconiopsis A, B sect. Heliconiopsis: A H. solomonensis B H. indica C, D sect. Perplexae: C H. gaiboriana D H. impudica E – H subgen. Stenochlamys E, F sect. Stenochlayms: E H. psittacorum F H. richardiana G, H sect. Angustae: G H. laneana H H. velloziana I – L subgen. Taeniostrobus I, J sect. Taeniostrobus: I H. reticulata J H. collinsiana K, L sect. Aurantiacae: K H. schiedeana L H. aurantiaca.