Vanoverberghia sepulchrei (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Vanoverberghia sepulchrei Merr.

Family: Zingiberaceae

Vernacular names

• Philippines: agbab (Bontoc), barapat, chakchakil (Ifugao).

Distribution

The Philippines (Luzon and Panay), endemic and monotypic.

Uses

The fruits and seeds are said to be edible.

Observations

• Erect perennial rhizomatous herb, up to 4 m tall.
• Leaves up to 40 cm × 10 cm.
• Inflorescence terminal, flower-bearing part about 20 cm long.
• Flowers 4.5 cm long, pink.
• Fruit subellipsoid, berry-like, 2-2.5 cm long, with numerous seeds 3 mm long.

In ravines along streams up to 1500 m altitude.

Selected sources

• Brown, W.H., 1951-1957. Useful plants of the Philippines. Reprint of the 1941-1943 ed. 3 Volumes. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Technical Bulletin 10. Bureau of Printing, Manila, the Philippines.

• Merrill, E.D., 1923-1925. An enumeration of Philippine flowering plants. 4 Volumes. Government of the Philippine Islands, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Bureau of Printing, Manila.

Authors

P.C.M. Jansen, J. Jukema, L.P.A. Oyen, T.G. van Lingen