Bark
Stem soft, cylindrical, succulent and spirally twisted, green to reddish-green; arising from an underground rhizome.
Hellenia speciosa
Syn. Costus speciosus
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
(LC)
Local name
- Crepe Ginger (English)
- Pevato (Gujarati)
Shrub type
Evergreen
Deciduous
Family: Costaceae
3m
Indicated uses
Medicinal
Edible
Ornamental
Avenue
Other
Flowering & fruiting
Flowering
Fruiting
Key characters
Leaves
Simple, alternate and spirally arranged; oblong to elliptic-lanceolate, large, sessile or shortly petiolate, with a prominent midrib; upper surface green and lower surface often paler.
Flower
It forms on red 4 in cone-shaped bracts, with several 2 in pure white crinkled flowers protruding from each cone.
Fruit / Seeds
Fruit a capsule, generally red when mature, containing several blackish seeds surrounded by a white aril.
Did you know?
In Indian traditional medicine, the plant is known as Keukand or Chanda. Its bitter, starchy rhizomes have traditionally been used in preparations associated with blood-sugar management. Laboratory studies have also investigated its potential antidiabetic activity, but these findings do not establish clinical effectiveness.
Distribution
Tropical & Subtropical Asia to NE. Queensland