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Useful Tropical Plants

Renealmia pyramidalis

(Lam.) Maas

Zingiberaceae

+ Synonyms

Alpinia caribaea Gaertn.

Alpinia plumier K.Krause

Alpinia racemosa L.

Amomum pyramidale Lam.

Renealmia caribaea (Gaertn.) Griseb.

Renealmia racemosa (L.) A.Rich.

Common Name:

Renealmia pyramidalis
Drawing of the flowering and fruiting plant
Photograph by: Descourtilz, M.E., Flore médicale des Antilles, vol. 3: t. 171 (1827) [J.T. Descourtilz]
Creative Commons License

General Information

Renealmia pyramidalis is a herbaceous perennial plant producing clumps of erect stems 1 - 3 metres tall from rhizomes that can be 10 - 20mm wide[
850
Title
Renealmia (Zingiberaceae-Zingiberoideae), Costoideae (Additions) (Zingiberaceae).
Publication
Flora Neotropica 18: 1 - 218
Author
Maas P.J.M.
Publisher
New York Botanical Garden; New York.
Year
1977
ISBN
 
Description
A monograph of the genus Renealmia in the American Tropics.
].
There is a report that the plant is harvested from the wild and used locally in the Guyanas for medicinal purposes, but this plant is not native there, being found in the Caribbean only[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

850
Title
Renealmia (Zingiberaceae-Zingiberoideae), Costoideae (Additions) (Zingiberaceae).
Publication
Flora Neotropica 18: 1 - 218
Author
Maas P.J.M.
Publisher
New York Botanical Garden; New York.
Year
1977
ISBN
 
Description
A monograph of the genus Renealmia in the American Tropics.

Range

Caribbean - Leeward and Windward Islands.

Habitat

Lowland or mountain rainforests at elevations up to 1,300 metres[
850
Title
Renealmia (Zingiberaceae-Zingiberoideae), Costoideae (Additions) (Zingiberaceae).
Publication
Flora Neotropica 18: 1 - 218
Author
Maas P.J.M.
Publisher
New York Botanical Garden; New York.
Year
1977
ISBN
 
Description
A monograph of the genus Renealmia in the American Tropics.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *
HabitPerennial
Height2.00 m
PollinatorsBees, Insects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The aromatic rhizome is macerated and mixed with rum or vermouth, and the resulting beverage is drunk to alleviate rheumatic pain[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
The above use is dubious. It is listed from the Guyanas, but this plant is not native there, being found only in the Caribbean[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-01. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Renealmia+pyramidalis>

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