Parrot's plantain
Heliconia psittacorum

Family: Heliconiaceae

What it is like

A herb which has a rhizome or underground stem. It grows 1-2 m high. It can spread 50-80 cm wide. The leaves are banana like. The stems are slender. The leaves are 50 cm long and 10 cm wide. The edges of the leaves and the stalks are often red. The flowering stalk is erect. It is at the top of the plant. The flower stalk is 30 cm long. The flowers are orange to pale yellow.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows partly in water. It does well in moist to wet and humid zones. It needs fertile, humus-rich soil. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Cairns Botanical Garden.

Countries/locations it is found in

Antilles (country/location of origin), Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Cook. Is., Dominican Republic, Fiji, French Guiana, Gambia, Guianas, Guyana, Hawaii, Indonesia, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Marquesas, Mexico, Myanmar, North America, Pacific, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rica, SE Asia, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, Thailand, Trinidad-Tobago, USA, Venezuela, West Indies, Winward Is.

How it is used for food

The shoots are eaten. The rhizome is crushed and eaten raw.

Edible parts

Shoots, rhizomes, root

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and division of the rhizome.

Its other names

Local names

Kyettu-ywe-pan, Parakeet heliconia, Parrot beak, Periquitos, Parrot's flower, Supit udang

Synonyms

Bihai psittacorum (L.f.) Kuntze; Heliconia bahiensis Barreiros; Musa humilis Aubl.;