Red ginger
Alpinia purpurata

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. It is upright and keeps growing from year to year. The stems are leafy and cane like. It grows 1-5 m tall. It has spreading underground stems or rhizomes. These cause the plant to form thick clusters. The flower arrangement is at the top of the stems and is 25 cm long. The flowers have bright red bracts. The actual flowers are small and white on top of these bracts. The fruit are round capsules. These split open when the seeds are ripe.

It has potential as a plant that can fight TB.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It is best with part shade and moist conditions. It cannot tolerate frost. It does well in rich, wet soils. It needs an acid soil with pH between 6.0-6.8. In Townsville Queens BG.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Chuuk, Colombia, Ecuador, Fiji, FSM, Guam, Hawaii, Indonesia, Malaysia, Marquesas, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Trinidad, Tuvalu, USA, Vanuatu, West Indies, Yap

How it is used for food

The leaves are used to flavour coconut oil.

Edible parts

Leaves - flavouring.

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Kamapui futi kula, Kapui mi'a, Ostrich plume, Pink cone ginger, Teuila

Synonyms

Alpinia grandis K. Schum.; Alpinia purpurata var. albobracteata K. Schum.; Alpinia purpurata var. anomala Gagnep.; Alpinia purpurata var. grandis (K. Schum.) K. Schum.; Guillainia novo-ebudica F. Muell.; Guillainia purpurata Vieill.; Languas purpurata (Vieill.) Kaneh.;