Etlingera gracilis

(Valeton) R. M. Smith

Ketimbang gadjah

No photos yet for Etlingera gracilis

Summary

Etlingera gracilis is a monocotyledonous plant species first described by Theodoric Valeton, and given its current name by Rosemary Margaret Smith. Etlingera gracilis is part of the genus Etlingera and the family Zingiberaceae. The species' range is in Sumatra. No subspecies are listed in the Catalog of Life.

Description

A ginger family herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 2-3 m tall. The leaves are narrowly sword shaped. They are 36-50 cm long by 8-12 cm wide. The fruiting heads are on slender stalks 50 cm long. The fruit are round and 2 cm across. They are red.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. A sour flavour, they can be prepared as a condiment for food, with the same taste as the tamarind (Tamarindus indica). The red, globose, berry-like fruit is around 20mm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten fresh and also used for flavouring. It has the taste of tamarind.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in lowland forests along streams. It grows in Sumatra.

Where It Grows

Asia, Indonesia*, SE Asia,

Cultivation

We have no specific information for this species, but plants in this genus generally prefer a sunny position and a moist but well-drained, fertile, humus-rich soil.