Alpinia elegans

(Presl.) K. Schumann

Zingiberaceae Edible: Fruit, Rhizomes - spice, Root, Vegetable, Seeds 6 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Alpinia elegans is a species of flowering plants in the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It is found in Asia (the Philippines, Indonesia).

Description

A tropical herb in the ginger family (Zingiberaceae), one of about 200–230 Alpinia species found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions.

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Edible Uses

The pulp around the seeds is eaten. The rhizomes are used as a spice, and the roots, seeds, and fruit are consumed as vegetables.

Traditional Uses

The pulp around the seeds is eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

A decoction of the rhizomes is taken as a treatment for haemoptysis.The young rhizomes are soaked in water and the infusion is drunk as a remedy for headache. The leaves, pounded with a little salt, are rubbed on paralyzed parts of a patient. The juice expressed from young stems is used as a treatment for urticaria.

Distribution

A tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Asia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia,

Cultivation

Plants in this genus generally grow best in a sunny or partially sunny position in a moist, fertile soil. Plants flower all year round.

Propagation

Seed - Division of the rhizome.

Notes

There are about 200-230 Alpinia species. They are mostly tropical and subtropical.

Synonyms

Alpinia gigantea Fern.-Vill.Alpinia gracilis (Blanco) RolfeHellenia gracilis (Blanco) Hausskn.Kolowratia elegans C. Presl.Languas elegans BurkillRenealmia gracilis Blanco

References (6)

Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 442
Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 21
Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 2 (I-Z) p 1325
Reis, S. V. and Lipp, F. L., 1982, New Plant Sources for Drugs and Foods from the New York Botanical Garden herbarium. Harvard. p 31 (As Kolowratia elegans)
Siemonsma, J. S. & Kasem Piluek, eds. 1993. Vegetables. In: Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 8:312

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