Wild Gingers in the Rainforest

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The rainforest ecosystem in Southeast Asia is home to many species of gingers (family Zingiberaceae), each with distinctive flowers that may greatly aid identification. The most famous because of its value as a garden plant is the Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior), which has a large flower borne on a rather long stem that grows vertically from the soil.

etlingera littoralis, ginger, ginger flower, ginger in the rainforest, red flower
Etlingera littoralis flower

A lesser known ginger of the genus Etlingera is E. littoralis. In contrast to E. elatior, it has red flower that grows directly on the ground. Some forms of this ginger have yellow-bordered flower petals particularly those found around southern Thailand. Both species is beneficial as food and medication. For instance, the flower of E. elatior and the fruit of E. littoralis are edible. The former is also helpful in treating headache and stomachache.

Costus speciosus, cane reed, crepe ginger, red inflorescence, white flower, ginger flower, rainforest plant, zingiberaceae
Inflorescence of Costus speciosus

More conspicuous than those species mentioned earlier is Costus specious, because of its ability to grow in comparatively exposed surroundings of the rainforest. Also known as Crepe Ginger or Cane Reed, the conical inflorescence of this species is held at the tip of the stalk. A tubular white flower with somewhat ruffled petal will emerge from this inflorescence. This species has been classified into its own family Costaceae.

Among the folks of the region, Costus speciosus is regarded as a natural cure for various ailments. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is use to treat anemia and respiratory diseases, among many other diseases. Within the Indo-Malayan region, it has been utilized in a wide range of applications from exorcism to treatment of syphilis.

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