Ginger – Verigated Shell Ginger

Description

Characteristics

Native to eastern Asia, this plant is a rhizomatous, evergreen tropical perennial that grows in upright clumps 8 to 10 ft (2.4 to 3.0 m) tall in tropical climates. It bears funnel-formed flowers. Flowers have white or pink perianths with yellow labella with red spots and stripes.[3] There are three stamens, but only one has pollen. There is one pistil. The fruit is globose with many striations. In more typical conditions, it reaches 4 to 8 ft (1.2 to 2.4 m) feet tall in the green house, and 3 to 4 ft (0.91 to 1.22 m) feet tall, as a house plant.[4]

Alpinia zerumbet

Cultivation

Alpinia zerumbet is best grown in rich medium-wet, to wet well drained soils in full sun to part shade. Afternoon shade in hot summer climates, is recommended. Indoors, the plant must have bright light and humid conditions. Flowering rarely occurs before the second year.

Alpinia zerumbet is called a “shell ginger” or “shell flower” most commonly, because its individual pink flowers, especially when in bud, resemble sea shells. Other common names in English include “pink porcelain lily”, “variegated ginger, “butterfly ginger”, and “light galangal”.

In Japanese it is known as gettō’ (ゲットウ). In Okinawan, it is known as sannin. In Chinese, it is known as yàn shānjiāng (艳山姜) or yuetao(月桃).

Uses

The plant’s long leaf blades are used for wrapping zongzi, a traditional Chinese dish made of rice stuffed with different fillings. In Okinawa, Japan, A. zerumbet is known in the local dialect as sannin, or in Japanese as getto. Its leaves are sold for making an herbal tea and are also used to flavor noodles and wrap mochi rice cakes.

Statistically, Okinawan natives who consume a traditional diet that includes shell ginger have a very long life expectancy.[5] Recent research has investigated its effects on human longevity and the phytochemicals that may be responsible.[6] There have also been investigations into its antioxidant and hypotensive properties which may be responsible for its effectiveness in traditional medicine.