Barnum & Bailey
This velvety, brightly colored Heliconia (Heliconia Regalis 'Barnum & Bailey' ) is native of Colombia and Ecuador. The large red, orange, and yellow bracts of the hanging Barnum & Bailey heliconia pendent hold the small true flowers inside containing sweet nectar accessible through its long flower tubes. When it is ready, each bract will open and unravel a coil of flowers, and in some species, fruits. Heliconia's bright colors, energy-rich nectar and structure attracts hummingbirds, relying on them for pollination. A few heliconias, however, such as the green ones rely on bats for pollination.
The profile of this particular heliconia reminds me of a bird, as the bracts start to open and expose its flowers. - Big Island, Hawaii
