Heliconia bourgaeana

Frank, J. H. & Morón, M. A., 2012, Natural history of four species of Platydracus Thomson (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in Heliconia bourgaeana Petersen (Zingiberales: Heliconiaceae) flower bracts, Insecta Mundi 2012 (258), pp. 1-12 : 3

Growth of H. bourgaeana bracts

On 30 May, 12 flower spikes (A-L) were selected and all flower bracts were numbered from highest (an unopened bract) to lowest with a felt-

tipped marker pen, in total A1 to L8. New bracts were expected to form above the marked bracts,

and all could be recorded at the end of the study.

The idea of marking all bracts with a conspicuous code, not just the topmost, was for convenience as well as to discourage their disturbance or removal by members of the public.