Lempui
Zingiber chrysostachys
Family: Zingiberaceae
What it is like
A ginger family herb which keeps growing from year to year. It has rhizomes or underground stems. It has leafy shoots 60-100 cm tall. The leaves are sword shaped and 12-17 cm long by 4-5.5 cm wide. The flowers are tightly clustered on a flower stalk which arises separately from the underground stem. This is 7-10 cm long. The flower spike is 10 cm long by 4 cm wide. It has bright yellow bracts.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in evergreen forest and dry bamboo forest on limestone hills. It grows between 200-1400 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Indochina, Malaysia, SE Asia, Thailand
How it is used for food
The rhizomes can be used as a substitute for ginger.
Edible parts
Rhizomes, root