Cautleya

Cautleya lutela Chinese Butterfly Ginger

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This species is found in the eastern Himalayas and inhabits cool forest areas either on the ground in deep leaf litter or on stone outcrops among humus and moss. Also inhabits tree forks among accumulated leaf litter and humus. Grows fast and vigorously during the summer monsoon months

Deciduous. Winter dormant. Slender stems to about 2ft tall start growing in spring . These stems are leafy to about two thirds of their length. Flower buds appear from the apical portion of the stem. The bracts enclosing the flowers are a deep red and they are present throughout the flowering period. Brilliant yellow flowers are produced successively over a period of a month and more with each flower lasting about 3 to 5 days in bloom.

Cautleya gracillis

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Cautleya gracilis

Description: Deciduous. Winter dormant. Slender stems to about 2ft tall start growing in spring . These stems are leafy to about two thirds of their length. Flower buds appear from the apical portion of the stem. Brilliant yellow flowers are produced successively over a period of a month and more with each flower lasting about 3 to 5 days in bloom.

Habitat: This species is found in the eastern Himalayas and inhabits cool forest areas either on the ground in deep leaf litter or on stone outcrops among humus and moss. Also inhabits tree forks among accumulated leaf litter and humus.. Grows fast and vigorously during the summer monsoon months.

Ethnobotany: Not know

Cautlea spicata robusta Chinese butterfly ginger

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This is an ornamental and exotic plant, a member of the Ginger family, it is ideal for a shady spot in your garden   It will both delight and fascinate you. A robust plant with broad, spear-shaped leaves, it bears in late summer decorative spikes of ornamental dark red bracts from which emerge, much like the forked tongue out of a snake’s mouth (but at right angles!) two-lipped, yellow flowers. But that’s not the end of it! These are followed by curious dark red fruits the skin of which peels back to reveal a plastic-like, pale blue flesh in which are embedded the seeds. 70cm-80cm.