Round cardamon, Lengkuas alpinia
Alpinia hainanensis

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb that has an aroma. It grows 1-2 m high. The leaves are narrowly sword shaped. They are 30-55 cm long by 2-9 cm wide. They are hairy on both surfaces. The flowers are showy and white. They are at the end of the branches. The lip of the flower is tinged purple-pink. The fruit is a round capsule. It is yellow and hairy.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in mountain forests and wetlands up to 1,300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Indonesia, SE Asia, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit - spice

How it is grown

It can be grown by division of the rhizome, from tubers or corms and offsets.

Its other names

Local names

Lengkuas-lengkuasan

Synonyms

Alpinia henryi K. Schum.; Alpinia kainantensis Masam.; Alpinia katsumadae Hayata; Languas hainanensis (K. Schum.) Merr.; Languas henryi (K. Schum.) Merr.; Languas katsumadae (Hayata) Merr.;