Hedychium

taxobox
name = "Hedychium"


image_caption = "Hedychium coronarium"
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Monocots
unranked_ordo = Commelinids
ordo = Zingiberales
familia = Zingiberaceae
genus = "Hedychium"
genus_authority = J.Koenig
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.|

"Hedychium" is a genus of perennial plants native to tropical Asia and the Himalayas, commonly growing to between 120 and 180 cm tall. Common names include garland flower, ginger lily, and kahili ginger. Some species are grown as ornamental plants.

The Hedychium coronarium (white ginger) is the National Flower of Cuba where it is known as "Flor de Mariposa" (lit. Butterfly flower) due to its similarity to a flying white butterfly. This species is fragrant and women garnished themselves with these flowers during Spanish colonization of Cuba. The intricate structure of the inflorescence allowed women to hide and carry secret messages important to the independence cause inside it.Fact|date=March 2008 It is said that a guajiro's house (farmers) is not completed without a white ginger in a garden. Today the plant has gone wild in the cool rainy mountains in Sierra de Organos, Pinar del Rio Province in the west, Escambray Mountains in the center of the island and in Sierra Maestra in the very west of it.

White ginger is common in Brazil and is considered an invasive weed. It was introduced in the era of slavery in Brazil, brought to the country by African slaves.

pecies

*"Hedychium aurantiacum"
*"Hedychium coccineum"
*"Hedychium coronarium"
*"Hedychium densiflorum"
*"Hedychium ellipticum" "Shaving Brush" Ginger
*"Hedychium flavescens"
*"Hedychium gardnerianum"
*"Hedychium samuiense"
*"Hedychium spicatum", called "kapur kachari" in Hindi

References

* http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/faqs/Subtropicals.html
* http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Spiked%20Ginger%20Lily.html
* http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Butterfly%20Ginger%20Lily.html