Grown as an ornamental plant to The plant is mainly grown for ornamental purposes. Its fragrant flowers are 7 extensively used in garlands and bouquets and the essential oil from the rhizomes and flowers is used to make quality perfume. The rhizomes are edible and have been used
Details
§ 01
uses
The plant is mainly grown for ornamental purposes. Its fragrant flowers are 7 extensively used in garlands and bouquets and the essential oil from the rhizomes and flowers is used to make quality perfume. The rhizomes are edible and have been used for starch extraction. The rhizomes and stem bases are diuretic, antisyphilitic and possess antifungal properties.
family
Zingiberaceae
synonym
Hedychium spicatum Lodd., fi Kaempferia hedychium Lam.
description
Rhizomatous herbs, leafy stem to 1.5 m high, robust, densely clumped; rhizome horizontal. Leaves to × 30 10 cm, oblong, acuminate, glabrate; × ligule 2 cm long, acuminate. Spike 15 7 × cm, ovoid; bracts 5 2 cm, oblong, obtuse, glabrous. Flowers 2-4 in each bracts. Calyx fl 4 cm long, not split, glabrous. Corolla tube 9 cm long, narrow, glabrous, lobes 3.5 cm × long, slender, glabrous. Lip 6 6 cm; lobes emarginate, white; anthers 1.5 cm long, Konig filaments shorter than lip.
native range
The Himalayas and Southern China
distribution
Widely cultivated. Naturalised in several countries.
english names
Butterfly ginger lily · in Garland flower · White ginger