WorldFloraDB

Characteristics

Herbs, rhizomatous, 1--2[--5] m, forming small to large monotypic stands. Leaves green [bronze or magenta in hybrids and cultivars], often glaucous [lanuginose]; blade narrowly ovate to narrowly elliptic, 20--70 cm ´ 15--30 cm, base gradually or abruptly tapered, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences: peduncles green [magenta], often glaucous; bracts green [magenta], often glaucous; primary bracts to 30 cm, secondary bracts to 20 cm; floral bracts 0.5--3 ´ 0.3--1.5 cm, papery. Flowers nearly sessile, subtended by pedicel bract; sepals usually green [magenta], often less than half size of petals; petals sharply reflexed or not, green or brightly colored, 4--15 cm, generally shorter than staminodes; staminodes pale yellow to deep crimson red; labellum 3--9 ´ 4--10 cm; ovary green [magenta]. Capsules brown, 1.5--6 ´ 2--4.5 cm, warty, becoming papery. Seeds 5--25[--75] per capsule, medium to dark brown or black, 4--10 ´ 4--8 mm.

More

Mediocre to fairly massive, leafy, rhizomatous herbs; leaves spiral, relatively large, with an eligulate sheath; inflorescence racemiform or paniculate, bracteate, the bracts usually subtending a cicinnus of 2 more or less showy, usually brightly colored perfect flowers; sepals 3, free, more or less foliaceous or petalaceous, es-sentially equal; petals 3, nearly equal, more or less connate at the base; fertile stamen 1, petaloid, bearing a solitary marginal anther, more or less connate at the base with the somewhat petaloid style, a petaloid anterior (labellum) and 2-3 showy posterior staminodia; ovary inferior, 3-celled, conspicuously warty or spiny-fimbriate, containing numerous ovules; fruit a rather large warty or spiny-fimbriate capsule finally opening by the collapse of the pericarp; seeds round and very hard.

Characters of the family. Spp. c. 55, probably all native to tropics and subtropics of America but some spp. long established in the Old World.

Morphological characters and geographic distribution are the same as those for the family.

Description as for the family.

Life form

perennial

Growth form

herb

Growth support

-

Foliage retention

deciduous

Sexuality

hermaphrodite

Pollination

-

Spread

-

Mature width (meter)

1.5

Mature height (meter)

2.5

Root system

-

Rooting depth (meter)

-

Root diameter (meter)

-

Flower color

Blooming months

Jan	Feb	Mar
Apr	May	Jun
Jul	Aug	Sep
Oct	Nov	Dec

Fruit color

-

Fruiting months

Jan	Feb	Mar
Apr	May	Jun
Jul	Aug	Sep
Oct	Nov	Dec

Nitrogen fixer

-

Photosynthetic pathway

-

Environment

Light
Soil humidity
Soil texture	-
Soil acidity
Soil nutriment	-
Hardiness (USDA)

Usage

Uses	-
Edible	-
Therapeutic use	-
Human toxicity	-
Animal toxicity	-

Cultivation

Can be grown by divisions. Seeds needs soaking.

Mode	divisions
Germination duration (days)	21 - 60
Germination temperacture (C°)	21 - 23
Germination luminosity	-
Germination treatment	soaking
Minimum temperature (C°)	-
Optimum temperature (C°)	-
Size	-
Vigor	-
Productivity	-