Bark
True bark is absent because the plant is a herb. The aerial pseudostems are formed by overlapping leaf sheaths; the underground rhizome is thick, branched, aromatic and reddish-brown externally, with pale yellowish to whitish flesh.
Alpinia galanga
Syn. Alpinia carnea
IUCN Red List
Data Deficient
(DD)
Local name
- Greater Galangal (English)
- Bara kulanjan (Hindi)
Herb type
Evergreen
Deciduous
Family: Zingiberaceae
2m
Indicated uses
Medicinal
Edible
Ornamental
Avenue
Other
Flowering & fruiting
Flowering
Fruiting
Key characters
Leaves
Leaves being long, rather narrow blades.
Flower
Flowers, of curious formation, growing in a simple, terminal spike, the petals white, with deep-red veining distinguishing the lip-petal.
Fruit / Seeds
The branched pieces of rhizome are from 3.5-7.5 cm in length, and seldom more than 2 cm thick.
Did you know?
In African-American Hoodoo folk magic, Greater Galangal is referred to as “Little John to the Chew” or “Chewing John.” Practitioners chew the root and spit it out to bring good luck, win court cases, or protect against harm.
Distribution
S. China to W. & Central Malesia, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan