Plant · GBIF taxon 2760940
Expanded Lobsterclaw
Heliconia latispathaExpanded Lobsterclaw carries upright zigzagging displays of orange, red, and yellow bracts above banana-like leaves. Tubular flowers sit within the waxy bracts, where visiting hummingbirds transfer pollen while reaching for nectar.
Tropical PerennialColorful BractsHummingbird Pollinated
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthesis; roots absorb water and mineral nutrients
Predators
- Leaf-feeding caterpillars
- Beetles
- Leaf-cutter ants
ThreatsForest clearing, wetland drainage, repeated cutting, and loss of pollinator habitat
HabitatsHumid forest edges, stream banks, sunny clearings, roadsides, and secondary growth
Life spanA long-lived perennial that renews shoots from underground rhizomes for many years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyHeliconiaceae
- SpeciesHeliconia latispatha
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Observe without cutting colorful bracts or trampling shoots around the parent clump.
Responsible observation
- Bracts: Look for an upright zigzag stack rather than a hanging cluster.
- Visitors: Watch from a distance for hummingbirds probing between the waxy bracts.
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