Alpinia zerumbet
(Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm.
Zingiberaceae
Alpinia cristata Griff.
Alpinia fimbriata Gagnep.
Alpinia fluvitialis Hayata
Alpinia nutans longiramosa Gagnep.
Alpinia penicillata Roscoe
Alpinia schumanniana Valeton
Alpinia speciosa (J.C.Wendl.) K.Schum.
Amomum nutans (Andrews) Schult.
Catimbium speciosum (J.C.Wendl.) Holttum
Costus zerumbet Pers.
Languas schumanniana (Valeton) Sasaki
Languas speciosa (J.C.Wendl.) Small
Renealmia nutans Andrews
Renealmia spectabilis Rusby
Zerumbet speciosum J.C.Wendl.
Common Name:
General Information
Alpinia zerumbet is a herbaceous, evergreen perennial plant producing leafy stems that can be 2 - 3 metres tall from a creeping rootstock[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
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- http://proseanet.org/
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- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
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The plant is particularly valued as a digestive tonic and is often harvested, both a a medicina and a a food and source of materials. It is cultivated throughout South-East Asia and in many other tropical and subtropical countries[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
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- http://proseanet.org/
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- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. Especially in its variegated form the plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental in parts of the tropics[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
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- Author
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- http://proseanet.org/
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- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
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Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
E. Asia - southern China, southern Japan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia.
Habitat
Shaded areas in open forest[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
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- http://proseanet.org/
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- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
],
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Perennial |
| Height | 2.50 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Plants in this genus generally grow best in a sunny or partially sunny position in a moist, fertile soil[
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.
]. Prefers a slightly acid soil[
423- Title
- Desert Tropicals
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- http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
- Publisher
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- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- 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.
].
Plants flower on stems that are more than one year old[
352- Title
- KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
- Publication
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- Author
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- Website
- http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
].
Edible Uses
The leaves are used as perfumed wrappers for cooked rice[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
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- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The pith of the young stem was commonly eaten in parts of Malaysia[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
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- Author
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- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Medicinal
A decoction of the leaves is used as a bath against fevers[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
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- Author
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- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The rhizome is astringent, carminative, sedative, stimulant, stomachic and tonic[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
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- Author
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- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
] It stimulates the digestion, and is therefore employed in the treatment of a wide range of digestive disorders including dyspepsia, flatulence, vomiting, gastralgia, colic and diarrhoea, it is also used in the treatment of malaria, rheumatism and bronchial catarrh[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
372- Title
- Flowers of India
- Publication
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- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.flowersofindia.net/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
].
The fresh rhizome is applied topically in the treatment of ringworms and other skin diseases[
372- Title
- Flowers of India
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- http://www.flowersofindia.net/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
].
The seed is used to clear cold, invigorate the spleen and warm the stomach[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
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- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Other Uses
The leaf sheaths are sometimes used as fibre for making rope[310.
The plant is pulped and the fibre used for making paper[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
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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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
