Etlingera littoralis
(J. Koenig ex Retz.) Giseke
Kedungkel
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(c) Kanokkook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaEtlingera littoralis is a species of flowering plant in the family Zingiberaceae (gingers), with no subspecies listed in the Catalogue of Life. It is found in lowland tropical forest floors (up to 300 m) in Hainan, Indo-China and Malesia.
Description
A ginger family herb. The false stems are 2-3 m high. It has slender underground stems or rhizomes. The leaf stalk is 0.5-3 cm long. The leaf blade is light brown underneath. It is oblong to sword shaped and 50-70 cm long by 9-15 cm wide. It tapers to a short tip. The flowers are at ground level. The flower head is about 10 cm across. There are 4-12 flowers opening together. They are red. The fruit is a round capsule. It is about 3 cm across and finely hairy.
Edible Uses
The young stems are peeled and eaten raw or cooked, and the round, finely-hairy fruits about 3 cm across are also eaten.
Traditional Uses
The young stems are peeled and eaten raw or cooked. The fruit are eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows on the forest floors between 200-300 m altitude in Hainan in China. It grows up to 1,300 m above sea level in Malaysia. Cairns BG.
Where It Grows
Africa, Asia, Australia, China, East Africa, Ethiopia, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam,
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.
Propagation
Seed - Division of the rhizomes.
Notes
There are about 70 Etlingera species.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Hong hui sha, Senggang, Tepus, Zingibila
References (9)
- Larsen, K., Ibrahim, H., Khaw, S.H., & Saw, L.G., 1999, Gingers of Peninsula Malaysia and Singapore. Natural History Publications (Borneo). p 75, 76
- Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 211
- Chai, P. P. K. (Ed), et al, 2000, A checklist of Flora, Fauna, Food and Medicinal Plants. Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sarawak. Forestry Malaysia & ITTO. p 164, 170
- Milow, P., et al, 2013, Malaysian species of plants with edible fruits or seeds and their evaluation. International Journal of Fruit Science. 14:1, 1-27
- Prael. ord. nat. pl. 199, 209. 1792
Show all 9 references Hide references
- PROSEA (Plant Resources of South East Asia) handbook, Volume 2, 1991, Edible fruits and nuts.
- Sirirugsa, P., 1999, Thai Zingiberaceae: Species Diversity and their Uses. http://www.iupac.org/symposia/proceedings/phuket 97
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Wu Delin, Larsen, K., Zingiberaceae. Flora of China.
