Heliconias (Heliconiacea) in the landscape and rural tourism Heliconias

Abstract

Objective: To describe the heliconia species for their use in the rural landscape.

Design/methodology/approach: Native and endemic heliconia species were searched in the literature; a list of the introduced heliconia was made with field data. Phenology of H. psittacorum and H. wagneriana was evaluated from June 2021 to September 2023. Used rhizomes of H. psittacorum and H. wagneriana were 40 and 60 cm respectively. These were washed with tap water and then immersed in Captan® 500 (1 g L^-1) for 10 min, they were established in a propagation bed for three weeks and then in the field, to record the vegetative and flowering stages.

Results: According to the literature, Mexico has 21 heliconia species of and one hybrid, of which five are endemic, the rest native, eight of them are used in the landscape. H. psittacorum had a vegetative period of 10 weeks and H. wagneriana 33 weeks; the flowering periods of H. psittacorum and in H. wagneriana is seven and eight weeks respectively. Heliconias are part of the rural landscape.

Limitations on study/implications: Only two phenology stages were measured in the field.

Findings/conclusions: Of 21 species of mexican heliconias, only eight are used in the landscape and 20 are introduced cultivars. The production of flowers began after 10 and 33 weeks in H. psittacorum and H. wagneriana respectively, which are used in floral designs once they bloom. Heliconias are used in gardens of rural tourism enterprises and educational institutions