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Alpinia vittata W.Bull

Family Name:	Zingiberaceae
Synonyms:	Alpinia sanderae Sander, Alpinia tricolor Sander, Guillainia vittata (W.Bull) Ridl.
Common Name:	Variegated Ginger, Striped Narrow-Leaf Ginger, Sander's Ginger

Alpinia vittata or Variegated Ginger is an ornamental herb that reaches to 1.5 m in height. The lance-shaped foliage have white stripes of various width along the lateral veins. The tubular flowers are white, clustered together drooping downwards. Variegated Ginger is fast-growing which allow dense clumps to form easily, making an ideal species for border planting in partial to shaded sites.

Semi Shade

Lots of Water

Moderate Water

Ornamental Leaves

Herbaceous Plant

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Herbaceous Plant
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	1.5 m
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width	1 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Papua New Guinea, Polynesia, Solomon Islands
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Non-native

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a rhizomatous herb that occurs in dense clumps, up to 1.5 m in height.
Foliage	Its foliage are sessile, arranged alternately, lance-shaped measuring up to 20 cm long and 5 cm wide. The leaves have a waxy leaf margin, white stripes of varying width found along the lateral veins.
Flowers	Its flowers are borne in a cluster, drooping downwards. Each cluster measures between 18 - 25 cm long. The tubular flowers are pink to white coloured, with lobes bent slightly backwards.

Fruit	Its fruits are classified as capsules which are dry and spilt upon maturity.
Habitat	It occurs in wet tropical forests, along the margins or in forest openings.
Associated Flora	The flowers are pollinated by flies. The fruits are probably eaten by small mammals and birds.
Cultivation	It is fast-growing, forming dense clumps easily. It thrives fertile, slightly acidic soil that has good drainage. Although this species grows well in the shade, leaves will lose their variegation under deep shade.
Etymology	Etymology: The genus "Alpinia" was named after Prospero Alpino, a botanist from Italy (1553-1616). The specific epithet "vittata" is derived from the Latin word "vittatus" which means banded, referring to the striped leaves.

Landscaping Features

Landscaping	Ideal in semi-shady locations where the white-striped leaves and white flowers will help to brighten the area. It can be planted in mass or alone as a specimen planting.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Foliage
Landscape Uses	Container Planting, General, Focal Plant

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Semi-Shade
Water Preference	Lots of Water, Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Fast

Rootzone Tolerance	Disease / Pest Resistant, Well-Drained Soils, Acidic (low pH) Soils
Propagation Method	Division

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green, White
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Smooth

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Sessile
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire - Wavy / Undulate
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acute
Foliar Base	Acute
Typical Foliar Area	Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 )

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Pseudostem
Root Type	Underground (Fibrous Root)
Specialised Storage Organ(s)	Underground (Rhizome)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers , Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	White

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Terminal
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Individual Flower Shape	Tubular
Inflorescence Type	Spike
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule

References

References	Chicago Botanic Garden (continuously updated). Chicago Botanic Garden. https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantcollections/plantfinder/alpinia_vittata--marbled_ginger. Accessed 4 January 2022 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (continuously updated). Plants of the World Online \| Kew Science. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:17245530-1 . Accessed 16 December 2021. Royal Horticultural Society (continuously updated). RHS Gardening. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/26961/alpinia-vittata-(v)/details. Accessed 4 January 2022

References

Chicago Botanic Garden (continuously updated). Chicago Botanic Garden. https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantcollections/plantfinder/alpinia_vittata--marbled_ginger. Accessed 4 January 2022

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (continuously updated). Plants of the World Online | Kew Science. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:17245530-1 . Accessed 16 December 2021.

Royal Horticultural Society (continuously updated). RHS Gardening. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/26961/alpinia-vittata-(v)/details. Accessed 4 January 2022

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Master ID	353
Species ID	1649
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.