Alpinia purpurata
(Vieill.) K.Schum.
Zingiberaceae
Alpinia grandis K.Schum.
Guillainia novo-ebudica F.Muell.
Guillainia purpurata Vieill.
Languas purpurata (Vieill.) Kaneh.
Common Name:
Cultivated plant in Maui, Keanae Arboretum
Photograph by: Forest and Kim Starr
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Cultivated plant in Maui, Keanae Arboretum
Photograph by: Forest and Kim Starr
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Flowering stems
Photograph by: darina
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
General Information
Alpinia purpurata is an evergreen, herbaceous, perennial plant producing a clump of leafy stems 3 - 4 metres tall from an underground, creeping rhizome[
360- Title
- Philippine Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. Widely grown as an ornamental in the tropics, the flower is often used in the cut flower industry[
350- Title
- National Tropical Botanical Garden
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://ntbg.org/plants/choose_a_plant.php
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- General information on almost 400 species, with descriptions, habitats and some uses.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Southeast Asia - eastern Indonesia to New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.
Habitat
Disturbed moist forest, old gardens, trail sides as well as along streams; at elevations up to about 500 metres[
311- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
].
Properties
Medicinal Rating |      |
Habit | Evergreen Perennial |
Height | 3.00 m |
Pollinators | Bees, Butterflies, Birds |
Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Prefers a position in light shade[
423- Title
- Desert Tropicals
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
]. Requires a moist, fertile soil[
423- Title
- Desert Tropicals
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
,
974- Title
- Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ahmed Fayaz
- Publisher
- Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-55407-489
- Description
- A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
].
Widely cultivated as an ornamental, the plant has become naturalized in many areas[
350- Title
- National Tropical Botanical Garden
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://ntbg.org/plants/choose_a_plant.php
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- General information on almost 400 species, with descriptions, habitats and some uses.
]. It is considered to be invasive in many Pacific islands, including Fiji and Hawaii[
].
Plants can flower all year round[
362- Title
- Dominica Botanic Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The fruit is used to treat sores[
311- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
].
A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of stomach complaints[
362- Title
- Dominica Botanic Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
The nectar of this flower is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds[
350- Title
- National Tropical Botanical Garden
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://ntbg.org/plants/choose_a_plant.php
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- General information on almost 400 species, with descriptions, habitats and some uses.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
Division of the rhizome[
423- Title
- Desert Tropicals
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].
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