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Etlingera elatior
| Family Name: | Zingiberaceae |
| Synonyms: | Nicolaia elatior, Phaeomeria speciosa, Nicolaia speciosa, Alpinia nutans |
| Common Name: | Torch Ginger, Philippine Waxflower, Painted Net Leaf, Nerve Plant, Bunga Kantan, 玫瑰姜, 火炬姜, 瓷玫瑰 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Indonesia, Thailand |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Cryptogenic |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a perennial herb which grows in large colonies. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Numerous leaves; ligule measuring 1.5 cm long and glabrous; petiole measuring 1.5 - 4 cm long. Leaf blades are lanceolate in shape, measuring 38 - 85 cm long and 8 - 18 cm wide, glabrous. |
| Stems | Pseudostems, measuring 3 to 6 m tall. |
| Flowers | Inflorescence, terminal, ovoid shaped of head consisting spirally overlapping flowers, the base is surrounded by showy crimson-pink bracts; peduncle measuring 60 - 150 cm long and 0.8 - 1.5 cm wide with green and glabrous sheath; calyx measuring about 4 cm long; corolla is pink; filament white, short and flat, anther red and longer than filament. |
| Habitat | It grows in primary and secondary forests, disturbed areas, and villages. |
| Cultivation | It is widely cultivated and introduced as an ornamental plant in gardens in the tropical regions, where the flowers are commercialized as cut-flowers. |
| Etymology | Its specific epithet elatior means tall, which refers to the plant height. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Flowers Food (Herb or Spice): The immature flower buds of the Torch Ginger have a unique fragrance and taste which is mainly used in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Some common dishes that use the flower bud are rojak and laksa. It can also be used as a garnish for sour-savoury soups. In Singapore and Malaysia, the bud is sometimes added to Peranakan fish curry. In Thailand, the raw bud is added to a salad called "khaao yam" or eaten with a spicy sauce. Medicinal: It is believed that the decoction of its fruits is used to treat earaches, while the decoction of the leaves are used for cleansing wounds. Cut - Dried Flower: It is cultivated for cut flowers in Hawaii and Australia. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting (Flowers) |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) (Vertebrates (Bat), Vertebrates (Other Mammal), Insects (Ant, Beetle)) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils |
| Diseases | The rhizomes can be infected with rhizome rot (caused by Pythium) and leaf spot (caused by Colletotrichum). |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Division |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong, Lanceolate) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Underground (Rhizome) |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Pink |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Inflorescence Type | Head / Capitulum |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Green, Red |
|---|---|
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Black |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Numerous (>20) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 695 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1990 |
| 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. |
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