Hornstedtia conica

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A slender ginger family herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 3.5 m tall. There is a rhizome of stem near ground level. The leaves are broadly sword shaped and 55-65 cm long by 5-12 cm wide. The fruiting spikes are 4-5 cm across. The fruit are like berries and compound and 3 cm long by 2 cm wide. The seeds are cone shaped and 2 mm long. It has a silvery covering.

There are about 60 Hornstedtia species. They occur in tropical Asia.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in lowland forests in moist soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

The layer over the seeds are sweet and edible. The seed clusters are eaten raw or candied.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ketimbang ketanim, Kudaro, Pining bawang

Synonyms

Amomum sarawacense K. Schum.; Donacodes alliacea Teijsm. & Binn.; [Invalid] Hornstedtia alliacea (K. Schum.) Valeton; Hornstedtia sarawacensis (K. Schum.) K. Schum.; Zingiber alliaceum K. Schum.;