Zingiber
sp.
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The group
of plants commonly known as “ginger” is a prominent component
of tropical floras throughout the world. They are used as ornamental plants
for gardens, for traditional medicine, and in culinary preparations as
a spice. Mostly terrestrial, they are found growing naturally in damp,
shady areas but some species can tolerate full sun. There are also epiphytic
species of ginger. Hedychium longicornutum is often encountered growing
on the trunks of palms and trees in Peninsular Malaysia.
Etlingera
littoralis
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It is the
floral structure or inflorescence of these plants that makes them so attractive
in a tropical garden or as cut flowers. The gaudy, plastic looking floral
structure is usually red, yellow, or orange, sometimes white. Most Asian
gingers are thought to be butterfly or moth pollinated and the fruit is
bird or animal dispersed. Some of the gingers that fruit close to the
ground may actually utilize ants as
fruit dispersers.
Costus
speciosus
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The order
Zingiberales currently has within it eight families of which, the Zingiberaceae
or ginger family is one of the largest families and is predominantly found
in tropical Asia. Of the approximately 1200 species of plants found in
the Ginger family about 1000 occur in tropical Asia. The richest area
floristically is the Malesian region; a distinct zone that includes Malaysia,
Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. About
160 species of Zingiberaceae occur in Peninsular Malaysia.
Further reading:
- Gingers
of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, K. Larsen, H. Ibrahim, S.H. Khaw,
and L.G. Saw, Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu,
1999
- Gingers
of Sarawak, Axel Dalberg Poulsen, Natural History Publications (Borneo),
2006
- Etlingera
of Borneo, Axel D. Poulsen, Natural History Publications, 2006
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