Alpinia zerumbet

(Persoon) B. L. Burtt & R. M. Smith

Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh 31: 204. 1972.

Common names: Shellflower
IntroducedIllustrated
Basionym: Costus zerumbet Persoon Syn. Pl. 1: 3. 1805
Synonyms: Languas speciosum (J. C. Wendland) Small Zerumbet speciosum J. C. Wendland
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 22.
Please click on the illustration for a higher resolution version.
Illustrator:

Copyright:

Leaf-blade lanceolate to narrowly elliptical, (20–) 33–67 × (3–) 7.5–11 cm. Inflorescences drooping, 15–30 × 6–10 cm; stalks of cincinni 0.3–3 cm, bracteoles sheathing, white proximally, pink distally. Flowers: lip yellow with red penciling, perianth and staminodes otherwise white or pink.


Phenology: Flowering spring–summer (May–Sep).
Habitat: Disturbed hammocks and thickets
Elevation: 0–30 m

Distribution

V22 223-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; Fla., Central America, South America, native, Asia

Discussion

Alpinia zerumbet is commonly cultivated, but rarely escapes. The illegitimate name Alpinia speciosa (J. C. Wendland) K. Schumann and Hollrung 1887 [(not A. speciosa (Blume) D. Dietrich 1839]) has often been used for this species.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Alpinia zerumbet"
Alan T. Whittemore +
(Persoon) B. L. Burtt & R. M. Smith +
Costus zerumbet +
pink +  and white +
3-toothed +  and subcampanulate +
1-3-flowered +  and stalked +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
Shellflower +
2-7-flowered +
monochasial +
Fla. +, Central America +, South America +, native +  and Asia +
0–30 m +
indehiscent +
globose +
Disturbed hammocks and thickets +
15 cm150 mm <br />0.15 m <br /> (30 cm300 mm <br />0.3 m <br />) +
6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br /> (33 cm330 mm <br />0.33 m <br />) +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (7.5 cm75 mm <br />0.075 m <br />) +
33 cm330 mm <br />0.33 m <br /> (67 cm670 mm <br />0.67 m <br />) +
lanceolate;narrowly elliptical +
cauline +  and basal +
differentiated +
yellow with red +
tubular-incurved +
notched +  and ovate +
oblanceolate +  and elliptical +
3-carpellate +
pink +  and white +
differentiated +
Flowering spring–summer (May–Sep). +
100 cm1,000 mm <br />1 m <br /> (300 cm3,000 mm <br />3 m <br />) +
Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh +
persistent +
free +  and connate +
differentiated +
Introduced +  and Illustrated +
not petal-like +
pink +  and white +
distinct +  and connate +
petal-like +
petal-like +
not differentiated +
Languas speciosum +  and Zerumbet speciosum +
Alpinia zerumbet +
species +
projecting +