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Costus pictus D.Don
| Family Name: | Costaceae |
| Synonyms: | Costus congestus Rowlee, Costus mexicanus Liebm., Pyxa picta (D.Don) S.R.Dutta & S.Yadav |
| Common Name: | Painted Spiral Ginger, Spotted Spiral Ginger |
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 to 2.5 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Mexico to Central America |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Perennial herb with a spiraling stem. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Long and narrow with wavy margin. The bases of the sheaths are mottled with marking. |
| Stems | It has green, red, and brown, spiraling stems with mottled, striped and spotted patterns. |
| Flowers | Yellow, tubular flowers have red spots and stripes and last for about a day. The round to egg-shaped inflorescence bears about 2 new flowers each day. |
| Fruit | The dry fruit is known as a capsule which breaks opens to release the seeds. It is approximately round and may be hairless to densely hairy. |
| Cultivation | It grows best in moist, well-drained soil under semi-shade. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Flowers Medicinal: Traditional Medicinal Uses In India, the leaves are used to treat diabetes. It is important to note that some therapeutic effects from traditional medicinal uses of plants are not currently supported or verified by scientific research. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Stems |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Parks & Gardens, Container Planting |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water, Lots of Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting, Division |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Sessile |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong, Lanceolate) |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Foliar Margin | Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Typical Foliar Area | Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 ) |
| Typical Foliar Size | 10 cm to 25 cm |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Red, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Papery |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Bilateral |
| Individual Flower Shape | Tubular |
| Flower Lifespan on Plant | 1 day |
| Flower Size | 4.4 cm |
| Inflorescence Size | 8 cm |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Black |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31480 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5877 |
| 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. |
