Abstract
The Heliconia species with pendent inflorescences and colorful bracts is a good option for landscaping in tropical gardens and cut flowers market. In Brazil only a few species of Heliconia are commercially produced eg. H. rostrata, H. rauliniana and H. chartacea. Aiming to increase the use of outstanding native plants and the knowledge of these products for enthusiasts of tropical flowers, this work was carried out to characterize H. chartacea, H. collinsiana, H. magnifica, H. pendula, H. platystachys, H. pogonantha, H. rostrata, H. rauliniana and H. vellerigera for use in landscaping and as cut flower. The evaluations were performed on plants belonging to the Germplasm Collection of the Instituto Agronômico (IAC), in Ubatuba Unit of Research and Development, located in Ubatuba, São Paulo State, growing in partial shade conditions. Qualitative and quantitative characteristics related to clump and flower stem aspects were analyzed. A point scoring system was used to determine the species most suitable as landscape plant or as cut flower. The plant height range from 2.3 (H. rostrata) to 7.0 m (H. pogonantha), having inflorescence with vibrant and different colors, varying between yellow, orange, red, pink, green and two color combinations. The inflorescences from most of the species were visible in the clump and remain in good conditions for two (H. platystachys) to five months (H. magnifica, H. rostrata and H. pogonantha) and present six (H. platystachys and H. pendula) to 40 (H. pogonantha) open bracts. White wax in leaves or inflorescences were observed in H. collinsiana, H. chartacea, H. pendula and H. platystachys. On the other hand, H. magnifica, H. rostrata, H. pogonantha and H. vellerigera exhibit a hairy surface, pubescent to lanuginose. The postharvest durability longer than 10 days was observed only in H. platystachys, H. rostrata, H. chartacea, and H. rauliniana. This characterization and scoring system were important to indicate and diversify heliconia use for landscaping and cut flower.
Highlights
The genus Heliconia, with 182 species, is originated from South America and the neotropical regions
Only few Heliconia species with pendent inflorescences such as H. rostrata and H. rauliniana are used in landscaping projects in Brazil
The evaluations were performed during three years in clumps from the Heliconia Collection of the Instituto Agronômico (IAC), the Ubatuba Unit of Research and Development, Paraiba Valley Regional Pole of Technology and Development of Agribusiness/APTA, Ubatuba, São Paulo State, in latitude 23°26’02’’ S, longitude 45°04’16’’ W and altitude 6 m
Summary
The genus Heliconia, with 182 species, is originated from South America and the neotropical regions. A point scoring system was develop to determine the species most suitable as ornamental plants, based on: CFS - Commencement of flowering stage (3 points – less than 1 year; 2 points – 1 to 2 years; 1 points – more than 2 years); FM - flowering months - months with emission of new inflorescences in the clump (3 points – more than 4 months; 2 points 4 to 2 months; 1 point– less than 2 months); FC - Flowering cycle - considering the period from shoot emission to inflorescence harvest (3 points – more than 4 months; 2 points – 3 to 4 months; 1 points – less than 3 months); CP - clump production (3 points - more than 14 flower stem/clump; 2 points - 14 to 7 inflorescences/ clump; 1 point - less than seven inflorescences/clump); IS - Internal shoots emission (3 points – presence; 2 points – moderate presence; 1 points – absence); CMR - Clump maintenance requirements, considering the necessity to remove old leaves or inflorescences and stem that falling down or break (3 points – low; 2 points – moderate; 1 points – high); GLM - Green leaf mass (3 points – high; 2 points – moderate; 1 points – low to moderate); IV - Inflorescence visualization (3 points – visible; 2 points – partial visible; 1 points – hardly visible); others important ornamental aspects (1 point to each of those aspects: different aspects of leaf color; no wax in the leaf or inflorescence; no hair on inflorescences; leaf blade ripped; stem resistance to falling down or break; no insect or plant diseases occurrence).
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