Plants are very similar to Costus afer, differing in their hairy leaf sheath[]. They hybridize with that species[].

Common Name: Spiral Ginger

General Information

Spiral ginger is a perennial, rhizomatous herb growing up to 3 metres tall[].
It is often gathered from the wild for its use as a medicinal herb, but so far its native populations are not considered to be under threat[]. It is often planted in home gardens for medicinal purposes, and has been introduced as an ornamental, mainly in the United States and South America[]. The plant is commonly used for ceremonial and religious purposes[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical western Africa - Guinea east to western Ethiopia and south to DR Congo.

Habitat

The shaded floor of the rainforest or lowland secondary forest[]. Seasonally or permanently humid localities in forests, at elevations up to 1200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	2.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a very fertile, humus-rich acid soil and a position in some shade[, ].
Spiral ginger is a vigorous grower. It flowers and fruits throughout the year, depending on the humidity of the soil[].

Edible Uses

In Gabon young shoots are cooked and eaten as a substitute for those of Hibiscus sabdariffa[]. They have a slightly acid taste[].

Medicinal

Costus lucanusianus is commonly used as a medicinal plant in tropical Africa. A lot of research has been carried out into the closely related C. afer, but little has been carried out directly on this species[].
The rhizomes yield 0.7% total steroidal sapogenins and 0.6% diosgenin[]. This is a higher percentage of diosgenin than is found in C. speciosus., from which diosgenin is isolated for the pharmaceutical industry[].
The juice from the fresh stems has shown a significant dose-related relaxation of rat duodenum and uterus in vitro[].
Different extracts from the leaves did not show any antibacterial or antifungal activity, and different extracts from the rhizome tested negative for antitrypanosomal and antiplasmodial activity[].

An infusion of the inflorescence is used to treat tachycardia and stomach complaints[].

The stems are strongly diuretic[]. They are used in the treatment of rheumatism[]. A stem decoction, the warmed stem sap or the pounded fruit are taken to treat cough, bronchitis and a sore throat[]. The stem is mashed or chewed to treat cough[].

The stem sap is rubefacient and burns on open wounds, but it is also anodyne and healing[]. It is taken internally to treat jaundice, and to prevent miscarriage[].
It is applied externally to treat urethral discharges; venereal diseases; and is applied to mumps and measles. It is used as eye drops to control filariasis[].

The leaf sap is acid and is used as eye drops to treat eye troubles and headache with vertigo, and in frictions to treat oedema and fever[]. It is also used as nose drops and the leaf pulp is rubbed on the head to calm insanity[].

The rhizome pulp is applied to abscesses and ulcers to mature them, and mixed with water it is taken to treat diarrhoea[].

Other Uses

A decoction of the plant is sometimes used to coagulate the latex of Landolphia owariensis[, ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown fresh[]. Germinates best at a temperature of 20c[].
Division[]. The rhizomes are cut into pieces 2.5 cm long and planted in a mixture of sand and peat moss[].
Cuttings of stem sections[]. The stems are cut into pieces 2.5 cm long and planted in a mixture of sand and peat moss[].
Bulbils sometimes develop in the enlarged fruit head of some species. These can be potted up and will grow into new plants[].

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