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Costus productus
| Family Name: | Costaceae |
| Common Name: | Orange Tulip Ginger, Dwarf Orange Ginger, Green Mountain Spiral Flag |
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Name
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 | 0.6 m to 0.9 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Peru |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Spiral ginger up to 90cm tall which forms clumps. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves light green, hairy, to 12 (15cm) long by 5 (6cm) wide. |
| Stems | It has an underground, horizontal stem known as a rhizome which produces aboveground stems at regular intervals. |
| Flowers | Inflorescence to 10cm tall, usually much shorter and only 5-8cm tall. Bracts bright orange red, pale whitish orange towards the base. Flowers tubular to 5cm in length, bright orange, lip red, lobed. |
| Fruit | The dry, dehiscent fruit is known as a capsule. It is woody and approximately round to egg-shaped. |
| Similar | Bears some resemblance to Costus productus var. productus; however, it differs in having a much shorter inflorescence. The color of the bracts and flowers also differ (flowers and bracts are orange in this variety as compared to bright red bracts and yellow flowers var. productus). Var. productus also differs in having large oval/oblong ligules that overlaps the leaf sheath of successive leaves. |
| Taxonomy | This species/ variety was initially mistaken for and sold under the identity of Costus curvibracteatus. It was subsequently sold as Costus productus var. productus but this was also an incorrect ID. It is now identified as one of the varieties under the Costus productus species complex. |
| Cultivation | This plant grows best in semi-shade and needs protection from hot afternoon sun. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Flowers Others: The edible flowers are sweet. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Container Planting |
| Thematic Landscaping | Bird & Wildlife Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Occasional Misting, Lots of Water, Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Pest(s) | Sucking Insects |
| Propagation Method | Division |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Orange, Red, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Waxy |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Colour(s) Remarks | Red-orange bracts, yellow tubular flowers |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 567 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1863 |
| 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. |
