Ginger

(For Spiral Gingers see 'Costus spp.')

Zingiber sp. (Ginger); Hedychium sp. (Ginger lily); Alpinia sp. (Shell gingers)

Non-Native

Family: Zingiberaceae

Size: Varies

Identification

Zingiber officinale's rhizome is the classic spice "ginger", and may be used whole, candied or dried and powdered. It has numerous culinary and medicinal uses.
Each ginger species has a different culinary usage; for example, myoga is valued for the stem and flowers.
The fragrant fluid in the flowers of Zingiber zerumbet is used to shampoo and condition the hair and to massage the skin.
The roots of Z. zerumbet were used for medicinal purposes and dried to make a fragrant powder. The leaves were wrapped around baked meat to flavor it.

Zingiber zerumbet - Awapuhi (shampoo) ginger near Hale 1

Zingiber zerumbet - Awapuhi ginger leaves and flower

Zingiber zerumbet - Awapuhi ginger flower

Alpinia purpurata - Red ginger at pool

Alpinia purpurata - Red ginger flower

Alpinia purpurata - Pink variety of red ginger at pool

Alpinia purpurata - Pink variety of red ginger flower

Hedychium flavescens - Yellow ginger

Zingiber spectabile - Beehive ginger at Mauka cottages

Zingiber spectabile - Beehive ginger flower