Tepus, Bunga tantan
Amomum xanthophlebium

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. It forms underground stems or rhizomes which produce leafy shoots. It grows up to 5 m tall. There can be separate flowers on the shoots. The leaves are oblong or sword shaped and 80 cm long by 12 cm wide. They form a sheath and have only short leaf stalks. The tip has a short point. The flower stalk can be 10-40 cm long. The flowers form a spike 12-24 cm long by 8-9 cm wide. The bracts are deep red and vary in shape. They can be 5-7 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. The fruit is oval and 2 cm long by 1.5 cm wide.

There are about 150 Amomum species. They are mostly tropical.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in lowland rainforests up to 1300 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The flowers are used as flavouring in curries.

Edible parts

Flowers, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bunga tanjong

Synonyms

Amomum stenoglossum Baker;