Heliconia paka
A.C.Sm.
Heliconiaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Heliconia paka is an erect, coarse, perennial plant, superficially resembling a banana, growing 2 - 6 metres tall. The plant forms a dense clump of stems (or more correctly pseudostems) from a rhizomatous rootstock. Each stem is comprised of tightly rolled leaf sheaths. The oblong leaves can be up to 2 - 3 metres long[
490- Title
- Flora Vitiensis Nova
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith. A.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden; Hawaii
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A comprehensive flora of Fiji, often showing plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
859- Title
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol. 37
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington
- Year
- 1969
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal, containing various articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
490- Title
- Flora Vitiensis Nova
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith. A.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden; Hawaii
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A comprehensive flora of Fiji, often showing plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
859- Title
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol. 37
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington
- Year
- 1969
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal, containing various articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
Pacific - Fiji.
Habitat
Dense rainforest and wet thickets at elevations up to 750 metres[
490- Title
- Flora Vitiensis Nova
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith. A.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden; Hawaii
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A comprehensive flora of Fiji, often showing plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
859- Title
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol. 37
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington
- Year
- 1969
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal, containing various articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 3.00 m |
| Pollinators | Bats, Birds |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
The plant can flower and produce fruit all year round[
490- Title
- Flora Vitiensis Nova
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith. A.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden; Hawaii
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A comprehensive flora of Fiji, often showing plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Edible Uses
Seed - cooked[
490- Title
- Flora Vitiensis Nova
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith. A.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden; Hawaii
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A comprehensive flora of Fiji, often showing plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
859- Title
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol. 37
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington
- Year
- 1969
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal, containing various articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Flowers - raw or boiled[
490- Title
- Flora Vitiensis Nova
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith. A.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden; Hawaii
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A comprehensive flora of Fiji, often showing plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
859- Title
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol. 37
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington
- Year
- 1969
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal, containing various articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The leaves are suitable for thatching temporary shelters[
859- Title
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol. 37
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington
- Year
- 1969
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal, containing various articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
