Alpinia zerumbet

taxobox
name = "Alpinia zerumbet"


image_caption = As a streetplant
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Monocots
unranked_ordo = Commelinids
ordo = Zingiberales
familia = Zingiberaceae
subfamilia = Alpinioideae
tribus = Alpinieae
genus = "Alpinia"
species = "A. zerumbet"
binomial = "Alpinia zerumbet"
binomial_authority = (Pers.) B. L. Burtt and R. M. Smith|

"Alpinia zerumbet" (Light galangal, Pink porcelain lily, Shell flower, Shell ginger, Variegated ginger, Butterfly ginger, Japanese: gettō; zh-cp|c=艳山姜|p=yàn shānjiāng) is a Chinese perennial plant of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae).

Characteristics

The plant can grow to a height of 1 to 3 m and bears funnel-formed flowers. Flowers have large yellow petals with red spots and stripes. There are three stamens, but only one has pollen. There is one pistil. The fruit is globose with many striations.

Growing the plant

Alpinia zerumbet is best grown in rich medium-wet, to wet well drained soils in full sun to part shade. Afternoon shade in hot summer climates, is recommended. Indoors, the plant must have bright light and humid conditions. Flowering rarely occurs before the second year.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Native to eastern Asia, this plant is a rhizomatous, ever green tropical perennial that grows in upright clumps 8-10 feet tall in tropical climates. In more typical conditions, it reaches 4-8 feet tall in the green house, and 3-4 feet tall, as a house plant. It is called a sheel ginger or shell flower most commonly, because its individual pink flowers, especially when in bud, resemble sea shells.

Use

The plant's long leaf blades are still used for wrapping zongzi.