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Kaempferia galanga

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Kaempferia galanga

Family Name: Zingiberaceae
Common Name: Cekur, Kencur, Sand ginger, Resurrection lily, 沙姜 (rhizome), 山奈 (whole plant)

Name

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

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 India to China and Indo-China
Native Habitat Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form Small, low-growing herb.
Foliage The plant typically consists of 2-3 (occasionally up to 5) broadly elliptical to suborbicular leaves which occur in a rosette. The leaves are held horizontally, close to the ground and are hairless on top, but hairy below.
Stems The rhizome, or underground horizontal stem, is white or yellowish and smells like camphor.
Flowers The inflorescence is composed of 4-12, white tubular flowers.
Habitat It occurs naturally in forest margins, open forest and bamboo forests at up to 1000 m above sea level.
Ethnobotanical Uses Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves
Food (Herb or Spice): In Malaysia, the leaves are chopped finely and added to salads for their flavour. In Bali, the rhizome is pounded and added to various dishes. In Thailand, the rhizome and leaves are added to fish curry. (Fruit or Vegetable): In Thailand, the young leaves are consumed raw with a spicy shrimp paste known as 'kapi kua'.
Medicinal: In Malaysian traditional medicine, the rhizome is used to treat a variety of disorders, such as inflammation, sprains, ulcers, high blood pressure, asthma, colds, coughs and sore throats. The rhizome and leaves are pounded and applied as a poultice or lotion.  
Others: The rhizome is also used to make perfumes.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features Ornamental Flowers, Fragrant (Foliage)
Landscape Uses Container Planting, General
Thematic Landscaping Economic Garden

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Semi-Shade
Water Preference Lots of Water, Occasional Misting
Plant Growth Rate Moderate
Rootzone Tolerance Easy to Grow, Fertile Loamy Soils
Maintenance Requirements Low
Propagation Method Storage Organ (Rhizome), Division

Foliar

Mature Foliage Colour(s) Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s) Smooth, Glossy / Shiny
Foliar Type Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem Basal
Foliar Shape(s) Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical)
Foliar Venation Parallel
Foliar Margin Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip Acuminate
Foliar Base Rounded / Obtuse
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

Specialised Storage Organ(s) Underground (Rhizome)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s) Purple, White
Flower Texture(s) Smooth
Flower Grouping Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location Terminal
Flower Symmetry Bilateral
Individual Flower Shape Tubular, Cruciform / Cross-shaped
Flowering Opening Time Daytime
Flower Lifespan on Plant 1 Day
Flowering Habit Polycarpic

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID 869
Species ID 2164
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.
Species record last updated on: 30 May 2022.
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