Mussel galanga
Alpinia conchigera

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. The false stems are 1.2-2 m tall. The leaf stalk is 5-10 mm long. The leaf blade is sword shaped and 20-30 cm long by 1-10 cm wide. There are hairs along the mid vein underneath. The flower panicles are 20-30 cm long and with 1 or 2 branches. There are short secondary branches. The fruit is a round capsule. It is 8-10 mm across. There are 3-5 seeds. These have a strong smell.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They grow in forests between 600-1100 m altitude in S China. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The rhizome is dried and used to flavour rice wine. It is also used as seasoning for dishes. The fruit are eaten as a vegetable.

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Fruit, rhizome - spice, root - flavouring, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chengkenam, Jerunang, Jie bian shan jiang, Lengkuas kechil, Lenguas ranting, Padegaw-gyi, Rieng nuoc, Rieng rung

Synonyms

Alpinia humilis Teijsm. & Binn. [Illegitimate]; Alpinia laosensis Gagnep.; Alpinia sumatrana (Miq.) K. Schum.; Languas conchigera (Griffith) Burkill; Languas sumatrana (Miq.) Merr.; Strobidia conchigera (Griff.) Kuntze; Strobidia oligosperma Kuntze; Strobidia sumatrana Miq.;