Heliconia species with upright bracts are known to collect rainwater and support a community of minute, aquatic fauna. Additionally, multiple species of bats use the leaves and foliage to construct habitats and shelters.
Several species of Heliconia open their flowers at night to attract nectar-eating bats for pollination. The flowers produce an abundance of nectar and the color, shape, and curve of the flowers are adapted to specific hummingbird species. Hummingbirds are the principle pollination of Heliconias in the Americas. Heliconias support a diversity of ecological relationships with various organisms. The inflorescence consists of brightly colored, waxy bracts (specialized leaves at the base of flowers) arranged alternately on the stem that encloses and protect small flowers. The inflorescence, or cluster of flowers, are quite distinctive and range in colorful hues of red, orange, yellow, and green. Heliconias thrive in tropical conditions and habitats that have an abundance of water, sunlight, and rich soil. The majority of Heliconia species are native to tropical Central and South America however, several species are found on islands in the West Pacific. Heliconia is a genus of flowering tropical plants with approximately 225 species.
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