Phylogenomics and a new classification of the tropical genus Heliconia L. (Monocots, Zingiberales, Heliconiaceae) Author Kress, W. John 0000-0002-0140-5267 Department of Botany, United States National Herbarium, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, P. O. Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013 - 7012, USA Author Fér, Tomáš 0000-0002-0126-3684 Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, CZ 12800, Prague, Czech Republic Author Carlsen, Mónica M. 0000-0002-1663-0475 Science & Conservation Division, Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA text PhytoKeys 2025 2025-01-13 251 37 66 journal article 307463 10.3897/phytokeys.251.130409 ac7ebc0a-b945-4af5-99f0-84fafb0d0aec 1.2. 1. Heliconia section Stenochlamys (Baker) K. Schum. , Engler A, ed., Pflanzenr. IV. 45: 37. 1900. Figs 3 E, F Heliconia subgen. Stenochlamys Baker , Ann. Bot. 7: 190, 194–200. 1893. Heliconia section Proximochlamys L. Anderss. , Opera Bot. 82: 73. 1985 . Type: Heliconia densiflora Verlot. Heliconia section Zingiberastrum L. Anderss. , Opera Bot. 82: 100. 1985 . Type: Heliconia hirsuta L. f. Type. Heliconia psittacorum L. f. (designated by L . Andersson, Opera Bot. 82: 22. 1985 ). Description and taxonomic notes. Small- to medium-sized rhizomatous herbs with Musa - like (rarely Zingiber - like) habit. Inflorescence erect, with peduncle, rachis and cincinnal bracts of various colors from red to orange to yellow; cincinnal bracts distichous, generally long and tapering, usually held erect. Flowers with diurnal anthesis, fully resupinate and held at right angles to bracts; perianth short-tubed, angular in cross-section, generally straight, free sepal generally only slightly curved, yellow to orange (sometimes green or white) with green tips; ovary green to yellow to orange to red. Fruits blue, glabrous. Six of the nine species currently placed in this section were included in Andersson’s sect. Stenochlamys ( H. hirsuta L . f., H. densiflora Verlot and H. sylvestris (Gleason) L. B. Smith were placed elsewhere). In the current analysis H. hirsuta , despite its position in the molecular analysis as sister to sect. Heliconia , is placed in this section based on the resupinate flowers with green-colored tips and distichous cincinnal bracts. Similarly genomic data placed H. lourteigiae Emygdio & Santos in sect. Stenochlamys , but morphological traits more strongly ally this species with others in sect. Taeniostrobus . A LPP support of 0.99 demarcates sect. Stenochlamys in the present classification. Species. * Heliconia acuminata L. C. Rich. ; * H. brachyantha L. Anderss. ; * H. densiflora Verlot ; * H. hirsuta L. f. †; * H. psittacorum L. f. ; * H. richardiana Miq. ; * H. sylvestris (Gleason) L. B. Smith ; * H. tarumaensis Barr. ; + H. timothei L. Anderss. Distribution. Tropical Central and South America ( Bolivia , Brazil , Colombia , Ecuador , French Guiana, Guyana , Honduras , Nicaragua , Panama , Paraguay , Peru , Suriname , Trinidad & Tobago , Venezuela ).