Common Name:

General Information

Hornstedtia scottiana is a robust perennial plant producing a cluster of unbranched, leafy stems up to 4 metres tall. The stems grow from branched, woody rhizomes that are supported above ground level by means of short stilt roots[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is a very large ginger with interesting basal flowering, it is a good plant for moist shaded areas in parks and larger gardens[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Indonesia (Moluccas), to New Guinea, Solomon Islands, northeast Australia.

Habitat

An understorey plant in lowland rain forests, growing on moist soils; at elevations up to 200 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant usually flowers and fruits as a shrubby plant about 2 - 4 metres tall, but it should be noted that only the leaves are above ground level. The true stem is below the soil surface[].

Edible Uses

Seed clusters are eaten raw or candied[]. The seeds have the flavour of ginger[].
The fruit is borne at ground level in cone-like clusters about 10cm long and 5 - 6cm wide. These clusters have cream or reddish fleshy bracts, which ooze a clear jelly-like exudate at maturity. Individual fruits in the cluster are about 2cm long and 2cm wide. The seeds are covered in an aril, though this is difficult to discern in the gelatinous mass that envelopes the seeds[].

Rhizomes are eaten as a vegetable[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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