Edible: Rhizomes, Root, Flowers, Stem pith, Leaves, Fruit, Vegetable
A herb. The false stems are 2-3 m high. The leaf stalk is 1-1.5 cm long. The leaf blade is sword shaped and 30-60 cm long by 5-10 cm wide. They are hairy at the edge. They taper to the tip with a spiral point. The flowers droop. They are 30 cm long. They are enclosed by 2 long sheaths when young. There are 1 or 2 flowers. The capsules are bright red. It is about 2 cm across. It is ribbed. The seeds are angled.
A tropical and subtropical plant. It needs regular moisture and humidity. It needs a fertile humus-rich, well drained soil. It grows as an understory plant with bright light. It grows in S China. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. Melbourne Botanical gardens. It grows in hardiness zones 8-12.
Common Names: 'awapuhe, Ge-toLight galangal, Honje belang, Light ginger, Luheluhe, Padegaw-gyi, Punnagchampa, Sannin, Shell flower, Yan shan jiang
Synonyms:
Alpinia speciosa (Wendl.) K. Schum. (1893) not (Blume) D.Dietrich (1839);
Alpinia nutans sensu Baker pro parte;
Alpinia fimbriata Gagnep.;
Alpinia fluviatilis Hayata;
Alpinia penicillata Roscoe;
Alpinia schumanniana Valeton;
Catimbium speciosum (Wendl.) Holttum;
Costus zerumbet Persoon;
Languas schumanniana (Valeton) Sasaki;
Languas speciosa (Wendl.) Small;
Renealmia nutans Andrews;
Renealmia spectabilis Rusby;
Zerumbet speciosum J.C. Wendland