Galoba papua
Etlingera rosea

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has an underground stem or rhizome. It grows 5 m tall. The leaves have almost no stalks. The leaf blade is sword shaped and 50-55 cm long by 6-6.5 cm wide. The flowering shoot is like a spike. It is 5 cm across. It grows near the soil on a separate stalk about 6 cm long. The fruit is like a capsule like a berry. It is flattened and somewhat triangular shaped and hairy. It is 1 cm across and red. It splits into 3 parts.

There are about 70 Etlingera species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in lowland forests on heavy moist soils. It grows in Sulawesi and Papua.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia (country/location of origin), SE Asia

How it is used for food

The aril or layer around the seed is eaten or used as a spice. The seed clusters are eaten raw or candied.

Edible parts

Aril, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Anipan, Assem putjuk, Galoba jantung, Gitipi tana,Potmepini

Synonyms

Amomum roseum K. Schumann [Invalid]; Donacodes rosea Teijsm. & Binn. [Invalid]; Elettaria musacea Horan; Elettaria rosea Benth. & Hook.f. [Invalid]; Geanthus roseus Loosen. [Illegitimate];