In article , Bill Angel
writes
Hi:

I came across the image of the following plant, identified
only as "Yellow Fingers", and wondered if it was of the genus
"Strelitzia"?

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=994098

The reason that I thought that it might be is that it bears
some resemblance to a plant that I recently photographed.
This plant that I photographed was a "Crane Flower" or
"Strelitzia reginae":

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=1394299

Thanks,

Try looking up Heliconia (Parrot Flower). I'm barely familiar with
either genus, but your photograph looks more like the one I have of a
(labelled) Heliconia than Strelitzia reginae. AFAICT, the obvious
difference is that Strelitzia bears flowers singly, whilst in Heliconia
they are borne in a zigzag fashion along an inflorescence. There must be
other differences; Strelitzia is in the banana family (Musaceae) or its
own family (depending one where you look), whilst Heliconia is in its
own family (Heliconiaceae). Both families are in the order Zingiberales.

"Strelitziaceae ... inflorescences with tough, boat-shaped, green
inflorescence bracts. The distinctive flowers have more or less connate
lateral abaxial petals ..."

"Heliconiaceae ... inflorescences with large, colored bracts in the
axils of which are fascicles of flowers with petaloid tepals"
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley
http://www.meden.demon.co.uk/Malvaceae/gallery.html