Heliconia psittacorum (753479962)

Description:

Description: Heliconiaceae (heliconia family) » Heliconia psittacorum hel-ih-KOH-nee-uh -- named for Helicon, the mountain of the muses in Greek mythology sit-a-KOR-um -- from the Greek psittakos meaning, of parrots commonly known as: Chuukese: aruru ponape, mwakumwak • English: crab claw, heliconia, lobster claw, parakeet flower, parrot's beak, parrot's flower, parrot's plantain, psittacorum • Maori (Cook Islands): tiare parata‘ito • Samoan: vae paa Origin: Tropical America.. the reddish pointed structures are called bracts. These tough, leathery structures protect the actual flower, which is yellow and quite delicate. The hummingbird that comes to this flower has a beak precisely shaped to fit into the flower. When the bird feeds, it receives a meal of nectar and in return, the plant's flower is pollinated. Date: 7 July 2007, 11:46. Source: Heliconia psittacorum. Author: Dinesh Valke from Thane, India.