Yellow dancing girl ginger
Globba marantina

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 50 cm tall. It has tuberous roots. It has leafy shoots with 8-15 leaves. The leafy growth or ligule is 2 mm long and is fringed with hairs. The leaf stalk of the upper leaves is distinct and is 5 mm long. The leaf blade is sword shaped and 15 cm long by 4-5 cm wide. It has short hairs underneath. The flowers are compact and 1-4 cm long. The flower stalk is 1-3 cm long. There are 8-15 sterile bracts. They overlap. The lower ones are large and are 1.5-2.5 cm long by 2 cm wide. The upper ones are smaller. Each one usually carries a small bulb. These are narrowly oval or cone shaped and 1 cm long. The flowers are yellow.

There are about 50-70 Globba species. In Slovenia probably in a hot house.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dry forested areas. It also grows on sand banks. It can grow in sago plantations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Carribbean, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Leeward Is., Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The slightly spicy bulbils are eaten fresh or dried as a seasoning. It can be used like cardamoms.

Edible parts

Bulbils, bulb, rhizome

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from the bulbils. When the plant dies back, these bulbils become dormant for 5 months then they germinate.

Its other names

Local names

Kapulaga ambon, Halia utan, Bonelau, Barak, Bangliu, Chhota rasna, Luyan-luyaan, L(oo) ba l(uf)n, Phalar-gale, Sarhep kura, Waso-pan

Synonyms

Ceratanthera amomoides Homem.; Colebrookia bulbifera Donn; Globba barthei Gagnep.; Globba bracteosa Horan.; Globba bulbifera Roxb.; Globba ectobolos K. Schum.; Globba heterobractea K. Schum.; Globba marantinoides Wight; Globba strobilifera Zoll. & Moritzi; Globba timorensis K. Schum.; Globba zollingeri Gagnep.; Lampujang majus Medik.;