This is an annual herb originating from the Caribbean and South America. The plant is considered native to French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago.

It is often cultivated as a tropical ornamental plant in regions outside its native area. Heliconia psittacorum can grow to a height of 1-2 meters. Its leaves are lanceolate to elliptical and resemble banana leaves.

The flower has both male parts (anthers) and female parts (pistil and stigma) and is also known as a monoecious angiosperm. The inflorescence is upright, consisting of red bracts and pale yellow, tube-shaped flowers. Common names for this plant include Heliconia, Lobster Claw, Parrot's Beak, and False Bird of Paradise. Its growing season lasts from spring through summer to autumn.

Heliconia is also an undemanding plant, suitable for growing in pots or soil, both indoors and outdoors. It can grow well in the lowlands and highlands up to an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level with temperatures ranging from 13−30ºC. As a typical tropical plant, Heliconia grows easily when exposed to direct sunlight. Light regulation is essential, especially for newly planted seedlings. Young plants only require about 25-35% light. During this phase, the plant needs shade to maintain a fresh condition.

• The root system of the Heliconia plant is a fibrous root type with a round shape.

• The leaves are elliptical, with a smooth surface, and are green to purplish. The leaf tips are pointed; the leaf margins can be flat, somewhat torn, or have a twisted tear. Leaf length is between 30−120 cm, and the width is 15−25 cm. The number of leaves on each stem is 5−12. The leaves have sheaths that overlap to form a pseudostem.

• The stem of Heliconia indica is a pseudostem with a height between 0.5−4 cm and a diameter between 1.5−4 cm. The stem grows on the soil surface with a fibrous root system.

• The flowers have bracts, which are modified leaves that grow beneath the flower stalk and are often inconspicuous, but sometimes very attractive, resembling petals. Heliconia flowers are an arrangement of bracts arranged pendulously or upright. The inflorescence appears at the top end of the stem, forming an arrangement consisting of 5−25 sheaths that do not bloom simultaneously. The color and shape of the flowers vary depending on the species. The part commonly called the flower is actually a false flower which is the sheath or leaf bract that has various colors, while the true flower is located behind (inside) the sheath, is smaller, and less attractive in color. The arrangement of the sheaths can be flat, triangular, or zig-zag, with the sheath size ranging from 15−60 cm.

• Propagation is done vegetatively (by division of the rhizome).

The fruit of the Heliconia indica plant contains anthocyanins which are useful as a natural dye. Its green leaves have antiangiogenic, anticancer, and antifungal effects.

Saponin, Flavonoid, dan Tanin.