Edible: Rhizome, Root, Tubers, Leaves, Spice
A part of the ginger family. The plant continues to grow from year to year. The plant is 30-50 cm high. The roots are like a long orange brown group of fingers. These rhizomes are the size of fingers. They are 6-10 cm long and 1 cm wide. Inside the brown skin is a yellow sweet smelling tissue. The leaves occur as 3-4 leaves 10-30-50 cm long by 5-10 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 5-12 cm long and has a channel. The leaf sheath is red. The flowers are at the ends of the stalk. There are few flowers surrounded by narrow bracts. Each bract 5 cm long surrounds one flower. The flowers are white or pink. The flowers have a smell. The fruit is oval.
It is a tropical plant. In colder regions, leaves will die back in winter. They need a fertile, open, loamy soil. The soil need to be well drained. They shoot best with warmth and humidity. They then grow best in warm shady positions. They need a rainfall of 1000 mm per year. In China it grows in dense forests at about 1000 m in S China. In Cairns Botanical Gardens.
Common Names: Chinese keys, Ardong, Bhuchampakamu, Bhuichampa, Chee-puu, Chinese ginger, Dekunchi, Finger root ginger, Kachai, Khchiey, Kondakalava, Kra chaai, Krachai, Kunci, Kunir putih, Merkunchi, Poh-see, Seik-phoo, Suo shi, Temoo kuntji, Temu kechil, Temu kunchi, Temu kunci, Temu putri, Tiha, Tihaso, Yai macha
Synonyms:
Boesenbergia cochinchinensis (Gagnep.) Loes.;
Boesenbergia pandurata (Roxb.) Schlecht.;
Curcuma rotunda L.;
Gastrochilus panduratus (Roxb.) Ridley;
Gastrochilus rotundus (L.) Alston;
Kaempferia cochinchinensis Gagnep.;
Kaempferia ovata Roscoe;
Kaempferia pandurata Roxb.;