Costus guanaiensis
Rusby
Canahuate
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(c) Dave Skinner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Dave Skinner
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Leticia Andino, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
A herb. It grows from a creeping underground tuberous rootstock and has stems 2-6 m tall.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The stalks contain a tasty acidic juice that is traditionally made into a sweetened drink, and the flowers are eaten raw.
Traditional Uses
The stalks have a tasty acid juice. It is made into a drink by adding sugar. The flowers are also eaten raw.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in moist to wet thickets. In Puerto Rico is grows between 90-860 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Asia, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador*, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Mexico, North America, Panama, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Singapore, Slovenia, South America, Suriname, Trinidad, Venezuela, West Indies,
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Notes
There are about 40-90 Costus species. They grow in the tropics. Possibly in a hot house in Slovenia.
Synonyms
References (1)
- Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 83
