Heliconia aurea

Native to Colombia and Venezuela, this plant is a perennial herb that grows from underground rhizomes in wet tropical habitats. Its upright shoots carry large, banana-like leaves. The erect flower clusters bear red bracts with yellow areas, green edges and a pale waxy coating toward their tips. The smaller flowers are green near the tip and whitish below. It is grown as an ornamental and makes a lasting cut flower. Photographed in Colombia.