Heliconia angusta Vell. (syn.: Heliconia agustifolia Hook., Heliconia bicolor Benth., Heliconia brasiliensis Hook.), of Heliconiaceae family is an erect herb typically growing 0.70 m tall, native to Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

 (South America

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

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General

Heliconia angusta is commonly called the Christmas heliconia because its red and white inflorescences usually emerge during the holiday season. Wild populations, which are native to southeastern Brazil, are classified as vulnerable by the World Conservation Union largely due to the conversion of their diminishing habitats for agricultural purposes. However, the genetic diversity of wild populations has, at least in part, been preserved by the ex-situ cultivation of Heliconia angusta. The popularity of Heliconia angusta as a tropical garden plant and horticultural specimen has encouraged widespread propagation of this species by commercial nurseries and botanical gardens.