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Zingiber casumunar Local name in Nepali isphachyang (pha-chyang) Stems which are rather thin grow up to 2.5ft tall. Summer. Leaves aromatic specially when crushed. The dark brownish green cone has tightly packed overlapping bracts from which individual cream colored flowers open throughout the summer. The cone is held on a peduncle that grows to about 10 inches tall. Winter dormant. The stem and cone begin to dry off in late autumn. Rhizomes remain underground throughout winter. Habitat: North eastern Himalayas Ethnobotany: Fresh and dried rhizomes are aromatic and used medicinally. Small pieces swallowed with water said to prevent nausea. Dried or fresh rhizome pieces are crushed and the paste applied to foreheads of little children to ward off evil spirits. The paste also rubbed as a balm on temples and forehead to cure nausea and headaches.
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Zingiber rubens known in horticulture as Bengal Ginger Description: Leafy stems grow up to 6ft tall. Summer flowering. Flowers from base of rhizome with the inflorescence almost embedded on the growing substrate. A short peduncle carries the inflorescence with tightly packed bright red bracts. Single flowers emerge from within the bracts. Flowers have a showy lip. Flowering period is over a period of about three weeks to a month with individual flowers appearing from the bracts successively. Individual flowers last in bloom for around 4 to 5 days. Winter dormant. Rhizomes remain underground through winter. Stems die down in autumn Habitat: Eastern Himalayas, Northeast India. Ethnobotany: Seed capsules used as a spice
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Zingiber zerumpet popular name: shampoo ginger Description: Leafy stems grow to about 4ft tall. Flower stems grow to about 12 inches tall. Flowers in summer during the monsoons and the cones last till mid autumn. Winter dormant . The stems and cones start drying off from mid autumn. Rhizomes remain underground through winter The cones make a good cut flower. The cone starts as an overall green colour and as it matures and starts flowering the bracts take on a red coloration. When flowering is over the entire cone becomes deep red. Habitat: Southeast Asia Ethnobotany: The summer flowering period also coincides with the monsoons in Asia. Water collects among the bracts which eventually turns into a viscous liquid is used as a shampoo in Asian countries.
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Zingiber zerumpet darcyii Description: This species is a variegated leaf form of Zingiber zerumpet. Leafy stems grow to about 3ft tall. Leaves variegated with white/cream stripes. Bracts of inflorescence also variegated with white along the edges. Flower stems grow to about 12 inches tall. Summer, during the monsoons and the cones last till mid autumn. Winter dormant. The stems and cones start drying off from mid autumn. Rhizomes remain underground through winter The cones make a good cut flower. Habitat: Southeast Asia Ethnobotany: The summer flowering period also coincides with the monsoons in Asia. Water collects among the bracts which eventually turns into a viscous liquid. This is used as a shampoo in Asian countries. | |
Copyright (c) 2005 The Pot and Grass Company. All rights reserved.
Text & Photographs courtesy of Ganesh Mani Pradhan & Son