Pining totot
Hornstedtia tomentosa

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A robust ginger family herb. It has an underground stem or rhizome. It grows 6.5 m tall. The leaves are sword shaped and 70 cm long by 15 cm wide. The fruit is like a berry. It is 3 sided and 2 cm across. It is pale orange.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in lowland rainforest.

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 seed clusters are eaten raw or candied.

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Alpinia tomentosa (Blume) D. Dietr.; Amomum polyandrum Gagnep.; Cardamomum binnendijki Kuntze; Cardamomum tomentosum (Blume) Kuntze; Donacodes tomentosa Blume; Donacodes villosa Teijsm. & Binn.; Elettaria tomentosa (Blume) Miq.; Hornstedtia villosa (Teysm. & Binnend.) Valeton;