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Costus stenophyllus Standl. & L.O.Williams
| Family Name: | Costaceae |
| Common Name: | Bamboo Ginger, Bamboo Costus, Snake Ginger, Red Snake Ginger |
Costus stenophyllus or Bamboo Ginger is a rhizomatous herb that grows to 2 m in height. It is known for its bamboo-like stems covered in brown and white stripes and thin linear foliage. The spike inflorescence is red, oval produced at the base of the plant while yellow tubular flowers yellow and tubular emerge from between the bracts. This ornamental herb looks best in landscape when planted together to form a large clump.
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 | 2 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Costa Rica |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is an evergreen, rhizomatous herb that can grow up to 2 m, and uncharacteristically straight, erect stems that only spiral slightly at the top. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The leaves are thin and linear-lanceolate, pubescent on the upper surface. They have a smooth to wavy leaf margin, pointed tip, spirally arranged along the top half of the plant. Especially in the younger leaves, they are slightly folded inwards along the midvein. |
| Stems | The young stems have light and dark green stripes, and eventually matures to brown and white, giving resemblance to the culms of bamboo. |
| Flowers | The flowers emerge between the red scale-like bracts of the spike inflorescence. The oval Inflorescences occur singly and are borne on thick, curved stalks that arise from the bottom of the plant. Only large, mature plants produce inflorescences while the true flowers are yellow and tubular. |
| Fruit | The fruits are fleshy, containing black, oval seeds surrounded by white fleshy tissue. |
| Habitat | Found in ridges and slopes in lowland rainforests |
| Cultivation | Plant this species in fertile, well-drained, but moist soil that is slightly acidic to neutral (pH = 6 - 7.5). Protect plants from direct sun and wind as they require moderate levels of humidity. This species is suitable as potted plants but would need to be divided and re-potted as the rhizomes will outgrow the pot. |
| Etymology | The specific epithet stenophyllus is derived from the Greek stenos "narrow" and phyllon "leaf". This species is also commonly called "Snake Costus", because the oval inflorescences borne on thick curved stalks resemble the raised heads of snakes. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | This species looks best in mass plantings, creating a bamboo-like appearance. The advantage of planting this species over bamboo is that bamboo tends to grow aggressively, whereas Bamboo Costus does not. Another advantage is that the inflorescence of Bamboo Costus are bright and conspicuous, compared to the less-showy flowers of bamboos. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Stems |
| Landscape Uses | General, Parks & Gardens |
| Thematic Landscaping | Zen / Minimalist Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Vertebrates (Bird)) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water, Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Acidic (low pH) Soils |
| Propagation Method | Division, Storage Organ (Rhizome) |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire, Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Attenuate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Herbaceous |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Underground (Rhizome) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers , Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Red, Yellow / Golden |
|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Individual Flower Shape | Tubular |
| Inflorescence Type | Spike |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Fleshy Fruit |
References
| References | Riyas, C.T & Dan, M (2018). Comparative macroscopic and microscopic foliar characterization of twelve species belong to four genera in family Costaceae. International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews, 5(4), pp. 753 - 758. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (continuously updated). Plants of the World Online | Kew Science. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:66919-2. Accessed 05 January 2022. |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 578 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1873 |
| 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. |
