Lesser galangal
Alpinia officinarum

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A herb. The false stem 1-1.5 m tall. The rhizome is elongated. The leaves do not have stalks. The leaf blade in narrow and 20-30 cm long by 1.2-2.5 cm wide. The flower stalk is erect and 6-10 cm long. The flowers are borne singly. They are white with a red veined lip. The fruit is a capsule which is red and round. It is about 1 cm across.

It is used in medicine. There are about 200-230 Alpinia species. They are mostly tropical and subtropical.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in S China. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, East Timor, India, Indochina, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Timor-Leste, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The rhizome is used to flavour food. It is used in curry powder blends. It has a flavour like a mixture of pepper and ginger. The leaves are also eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, roots, spice, rhizome, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chinese ginger, Galangale, Gao liang jiang, San bai, Small galangal

Synonyms

Languas officinarum (Hance) Farw.;