Edible: Leaves as condiment, Roots, Tubers, Spice
A herb. It has rhizomes with tubers. There are 2-4 leaves. They are erect. The leaf stalk is 1-2 cm long. It has a channel. The leaf blade usually has a pattern of dark and light green. Underneath it is tinged with purple. The leaf blade is oblong to sword shaped and 17-27 cm long by 7.6-9.5 cm wide. The base is wedge shaped. The flowering groups are on separate shoots arising from the rhizome. They appear before the false stem. There are 4-6 flowers. The bracts are purple brown.
A tropical plant. It can grow in seasonally moist and humid or dry climates. It needs fertile, organically-rich, well-drained soil. It needs an alkaline pH. It grows in open grassland and is also cultivated in S China. It grows up to 750 m above sea level. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In XTBG Yunnan.
Common Names: Ardong, Bhuichampa, Bhuichampo, Bhumichampa, Buchampaca, Buchampakamu, Chenchineerkilangu, Hai nan san qi, Kenchur, Kondakalava, Kunci pepet, Kunir puteh, Kuntji puti, Malankua, Nelasampige, Nerpichan, Pagi, Punchi pepet, Temu pepet, Temu puteri, Wan hao non
Synonyms:
Kaempferia bhucampac Jones;
Kaempferia longa Jacq.;
Kaempferia versicolor Salisb.;
Zerumbet zeylanica Garsult [Invalid];