Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Liliopsida > Zingiberales > Costaceae > Hellenia > H. speciosa

Description: Stems 1--3 m, base slightly woody, apex branched and spirally twisted when old. Petiole 5--7 mm; leaf blade oblong or lanceolate, 15--20 × 6--10 cm, abaxially densely sericeous, base subrounded, apex acuminate or caudate-acuminate. Inflorescences terminal, ellipsoid or ovoid, 5--15 cm; bracts bright red, ovate, ca. 2 cm, leathery, pubescent, apex sharply pointed; bracteoles pale red, 1.2--1.5 cm. Calyx red, 1.8--2 cm, leathery, apex 3-lobed; lobes reddish black, rigid, and densely sericeous at apex. Corolla tube ca. 1 cm; lobes oblong-elliptic, ca. 5 cm, apex white or red. Labellum white, trumpet-shaped, 6.5--9 cm, apex toothed and crisped, with edges overlapping. Stamen petaloid, white with orange-yellow base, urceolate, ca. 4.5 × 1.3 cm, pubescent. Capsule red, globose, ca. 1.5 cm, slightly woody. Seeds black, glossy, ca. 3 mm.

Flowering and Fruiting: During monsoon

Uses: Rhizome used to treat fever, rash, asthma, bronchitis and intestinal worms.

Cultivation: Wild

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org