Famous worldwide as an ornamental, the heliconia lends an infusion of bizarre color and shape to the island's landscape. The name of these medium to large erect herbs comes from Helicon, a mountain in southern Greece believed to have been the home of the muses. There are thought to be around 200-250 species. Each infloresence may produce up to 50 hermaphroditic flowers. Leaves are composed of stalk and blade and resemble banana leaves.
Flowers produce a blue colored fruit which has three seeds.
Lured by the bright colored flowers and bracts, hummingbirds, arrive to pollinate the blooms. The birds spread pollen as they fly from flower to flower in search of nectar. Folkloric details found in no other guide Duppies may take various forms, the most notorious of which is the hag. Customarily the wife of a planter, she would shed her skin nightly, transforming herself into a ball of fire in search of blood to consume. Hags, however, are believed to be an extinct species today.