Zingiber zerumbet
(L.) Roscoe ex Sm.
Zingiberaceae
Amomum spurium (J.König) J.F.Gmel.
Amomum sylvestre Lam.
Amomum zerumbet L.
Cardamomum spurium (J.König) Kuntze
Dieterichia lampujang Giseke
Dieterichia lampuyang Giseke
Dieterichia major Raeusch.
Dieterichia minor Raeusch.
Dieterichia spuria (J.König) Giseke
Zerumbet zingiber T.Lestib.
Zingiber amaricans Blume
Zingiber aromaticum Valeton
Zingiber blancoi Hassk.
Zingiber cochinchinense Gagnep.
Zingiber darceyi H.J.Veitch
Zingiber littorale (Valeton) Valeton
Zingiber ovoideum Blume
Zingiber spurium J.König
Zingiber sylvestre Garsault
Zingiber truncatum Stokes
Common Name:
Growing plant with developing flower cone at base
Photograph by: Sten Porse
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0
General Information
Zingiber zerumbet is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing clumps of leaves from a large rhizome. The leaves form a pseudostem from 60 - 200cm tall[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
A popular and widely cultivated plant in southeast Asia where it is used as a medicinal plant and spice[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
]. The roots are sold in local markets in Java[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. The plant also produces very ornamental flowering heads and is widely grown in gardens[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Known Hazards
The rhizome is used in the preparation of arrow poison or is used for ritual ceremonies[
].
Botanical References
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
656- Title
- Monocotyledons and Gymnosperms of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
- Publication
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium. Vol. 52
- Author
- Acevedo-Rodríguez P. & Strong M.T. (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington.
- Year
- 2005
- ISBN
- 0097-1618
- Description
- A treatment of the monocots and gymnosperms growing in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
E. Asia - southern China, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.
Habitat
Moist places in forests[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Properties
| Weed Potential | Yes |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 1.50 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Prefers a position in humid woodland shade. Prefers a fertile, humus-rich soil[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The species has often escaped from cultivation and become naturalized[
].
Edible Uses
Young rhizomes - raw or cooked[
]. The rhizome is also used as a condiment and appetizer[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. Both the tips of young rhizomes (which are not bitter) and the tips of older rhizomes (which are bitter) are eaten raw with rice[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Young leaves and shoots - cooked as a vegetable[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
,
]. The leaves are also sometimes used to wrap food for baking[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
The young flower spikes, with the bracts removed, can be eaten raw, cooked or added to stews[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Medicinal
A decoction of the rhizome is used in the treatment of asthma[
582- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Philippines
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.bpi.da.gov.ph/Publications/mp/mplants.html
- Publisher
- Bureau of Plant Industry, Philippines.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An Internet site from the Philippines Department of Agriculture, giving information in a readable way on the medicinal uses of many plants in their area.
]. A decoction is used as a carminative to treat colic[
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
]. It is employed as a 'hot' remedy for coughs, asthma, worms, leprosy, and other skin diseases[
582- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Philippines
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.bpi.da.gov.ph/Publications/mp/mplants.html
- Publisher
- Bureau of Plant Industry, Philippines.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An Internet site from the Philippines Department of Agriculture, giving information in a readable way on the medicinal uses of many plants in their area.
].
The rhizome is applied externally to rheumatic joints[
582- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Philippines
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.bpi.da.gov.ph/Publications/mp/mplants.html
- Publisher
- Bureau of Plant Industry, Philippines.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An Internet site from the Philippines Department of Agriculture, giving information in a readable way on the medicinal uses of many plants in their area.
].
The essential oil in the rhizome contains zerumbone, which has spasmolytic and bacteriostatic properties[
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
].
Other Uses
An essential oil obtained from the rhizome is used to perfume soap and other toilet articles[
].
The dried rhizome is ground into a powder and used as a perfume[
582- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Philippines
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.bpi.da.gov.ph/Publications/mp/mplants.html
- Publisher
- Bureau of Plant Industry, Philippines.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An Internet site from the Philippines Department of Agriculture, giving information in a readable way on the medicinal uses of many plants in their area.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
