Cheilocostus speciosus

Cheilocostus speciosus, or crêpe ginger, is a species of flowering plants in the genus Cheilocostus. It is native to southeast Asia and surrounding regions, from India to China to Queensland, It is especially common on the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is also reportedly naturalized in Mauritius, Réunion, Fiji, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Belize, Melanesia, Micronesia, and the West Indies. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental[2][3]

Crêpe ginger
Cheilocostus speciosus from Tortuguero, Costa Rica
Wild Cheilocostus speciosus from Bukidnon, Philippines
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Costaceae
Genus: Cheilocostus
Species:
C. speciosus
Binomial name
Cheilocostus speciosus
(J.Konig) C.Specht[1]
Synonyms
  • Costus speciosus (J.Koenig) Sm.
  • Banksea speciosa J.Koenig in A.J.Retzius
  • Hellenia speciosa (J.Koenig) S.R.Dutta

many more

Description

Cheilocostus speciosus differs from the common ginger by having only one row of spirally arranged leaves. The species reproduces vegetatively by rhizome, and birds disperse the seeds when they feed on the fruits.

This plant is cultivated in South Asia and Southeast Asia for its medicinal uses, and is cultivated elsewhere as an ornamental. In some areas Cheilocostus speciosus is introduced and has become an invasive species.

Habitat

The habitat where this species is found is roadside ditches and low-lying areas in the forest. The flowering season starts after the rainy season, from October to December.

Human relevance

The plant has many historical uses in Ayurveda, where the rhizome has been used to treat fever, rash, asthma, bronchitis, and intestinal worms. It is mentioned in the Kama Sutra as an ingredient in a cosmetic to be used on the eyelashes to increase sexual attractiveness. It is used to treat kidney problems and other urinary problems in Mizo Traditional Medicine. It was used as a traditional medicine by Malays when evil spirits have possessed a body,[4] as well as for the treatment of high fever, smallpox and as a purgative.[5]

Cheilocostus speciosus has a large number of common names in many languages, including isebsab (Palauan); keu, kemuk or keumul (Bengali); keukand (Hindi); thebu (Sinhala); pakarmula (Gujarati); pushkarmula (Marathi and Sanskrit); jom lakhuti (Assamese); kostam (Tamil); Kosta (Kannada); Kostamu (Telugu); Okchak Khombi (Manipur) sumbul (Mizo); setawar (Malay).

  • Flower at Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
  • Flower & leaves at Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
  • Cheilocostus speciosus in Basse Terre, Guadeloupe.
  • Cheilocostus speciosus in Hawaii.
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References
  1. "Cheilocostus speciosus (J.König) C.Specht". The Plant List. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  2. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Hellenia speciosa
  3. Pacific Island Invasive Species Archived July 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. Samy, Joseph. Herbs of Malaysia. Times Editions. p. 85. ISBN 9833001793.
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