Ketimbang gadjah
Etlingera gracilis

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 2-3 m tall. The leaves are narrowly sword shaped. They are 36-50 cm long by 8-12 cm wide. The fruiting heads are on slender stalks 50 cm long. The fruit are round and 2 cm across. They are red.

There are about 70 Etlingera species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in lowland forests along streams. It grows in Sumatra.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh and also used for flavouring. It has the taste of tamarind.

Edible parts

Spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Nicolaia gracilis Valeton;