Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm.

Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Liliopsida > Zingiberales > Zingiberaceae > Alpinia > A. zerumbet

Description: It is a rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial, grows in upright clumps, with a maximum height of 2 - 3 m. Herbs with pseudostem. Ligule abaxially hairy; petiole 1-1.5 cm; lamina lanceolate, attenuate at base, acuminate with a spiral mucro at apex, entire, glabrous except pubescent at margin. Panicles drooping, to 30 cm, enclosed by 2 long sheaths when young; rachis purple-red, velvety; branches very short, 1- or 3-flowered; bracteoles enclosing flower buds, white with pink apex, elliptic, glabrous; pedicel ca. 1-2 cm; calyx ca. 2 cm, white, sub campanulate, split on 1 side, apex toothed; corolla tube shorter than calyx; lobes ca. 3 cm, milky white with pink apex, oblong; central lobe larger than lateral ones; lateral staminodes subulate, labellum 4-6 cm, yellow with purple-red stripes, broadly ovate-spatulate, apex crisped; stamen ca. 2.5 cm; ovary golden yellow hirsute. Capsule vermilion, globose, ribbed, apex with persistent calyx. Seeds angled.

Flowering and Fruiting: July-october

Uses: The leaves are used in Asia, believed to relieve fever and malaria. It is also believed to be diuretic and antihypertensive in South America.

Cultivation: Cultivated.

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org