1.2. 1. Heliconia section Stenochlamys (Baker) K. Schum., Engler A, ed., Pflanzenr. IV. 45: 37. 1900.

Figs 3 E, F

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

Heliconia section Proximochlamys L. Anderss., Opera Bot. 82: 73. 1985. Type: Heliconia densiflora Verlot.

Heliconia section Zingiberastrum L. Anderss., Opera Bot. 82: 100. 1985. Type: Heliconia hirsuta L. f.

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, usually held erect. Flowers with diurnal anthesis, fully resupinate and held at right angles to bracts; perianth short-tubed, angular in cross-section, generally straight, free sepal generally only slightly curved, yellow to orange (sometimes green or white) with green tips; ovary green to yellow to orange to red. Fruits blue, glabrous. Six of the nine species currently placed in this section were included in Andersson’s sect. Stenochlamys ( H. hirsuta L. f., H. densiflora Verlot and H. sylvestris (Gleason) L. B. Smith were placed elsewhere). In the current analysis H. hirsuta, despite its position in the molecular analysis as sister to sect. Heliconia, is placed in this section based on the resupinate flowers with green-colored tips and distichous cincinnal bracts. Similarly genomic data placed H. lourteigiae Emygdio & Santos in sect. Stenochlamys, but morphological traits more strongly ally this species with others in sect. Taeniostrobus . A LPP support of 0.99 demarcates sect. Stenochlamys in the present classification.

Species.

* Heliconia acuminata L. C. Rich.; * H. brachyantha L. Anderss.; * H. densiflora Verlot; * H. hirsuta L. f. †; * H. psittacorum L. f.; * H. richardiana Miq.; * H. sylvestris (Gleason) L. B. Smith; * H. tarumaensis Barr.; + H. timothei L. Anderss.

Distribution.

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