Zingiber chrysostachys (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia
Introduction

Family: Zingiberaceae

Vernacular names

Peninsular Malaysia.

The pungent rhizomes are possibly a substitute for Zingiber zerumbet (L.) J.E. Smith. A decoction of the leaves is administered against fever.

Rhizomatous perennial herb with leafy shoots up to 60(-100) cm tall.
Leaves lanceolate, 12-17 cm × 4-5.5 cm.
Inflorescence spiciform on a separate scape arising from the rhizome; scape 7-10 cm long; spike cylindrical, up to 10 cm × 4 cm; bracts suborbicular, 2-3 cm in diameter, bright yellow; bracteoles 2.5 cm long.
Calyx 1.5 cm long, corolla 4.5 cm long, pale yellow; labellum with obovate midlobe, 1.2 cm long, crimson with irregular white margins, side lobes ovate, 8 mm × 5 mm, white; anther appendage mottled pink to red.

Z. chrysostachys occurs in evergreen forest and in dry bamboo forest on limestone hills, 200-1400 m altitude.

Burkill, I.H., 1935. A dictionary of the economic products of the Malay Peninsula. 2 volumes. Crown Agents for the Colonies, London, United Kingdom. 2402 pp. (slightly revised reprint, 1966. 2 volumes. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2444 pp.).

Holttum, R.E., 1950. The Zingiberaceae of the Malay Peninsula. The Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 13: 1-249.

Ridley, H.N., 1922-1925. The flora of the Malay Peninsula. 5 volumes. Government of the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States. L. Reeve & Co., London, United Kingdom.

Theilade, I., 1996. Revision of the genus Zingiber in Peninsular Malaysia. The Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 48: 207-236.

P.C.M. Jansen