Volume 16 > Part 2 > Year 2023 > Page 736 > Zingiberaceae > Zingiber

52. Zingiber spectabile Griff.wfo-0000617878

Not. Pl. Asiat. 3: 413. 1851; Baker, Fl. Brit. India 6: 247. 1892; Schumann, Pflanzenr. IV, 46 (Heft 20): 174. 1904; Ridl., Mat. Fl. Malay. Penins. 2: 26. 1907; Fl. Malay Penins. 4: 258. 1924; Theilade, Gard. Bull. Singapore 48: 222. 1996; Theilade, Nordic J. Bot. 19(4): 403. 1999. Plate LXXXVII: F.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Rhizomatous herb 2–3.5 m tall; rhizome cream to pale pink, turning light brown when mature, smelling of lemongrass. Leaf sheaths bladeless 8–10, pinkish red or green, glaucous, glabrescent; ligule bilobed with connecting membrane between lobes, lobes 1.1–1.5 cm long, glabrous, glaucous; blades 10–28(–50), lanceolate, 30–50 by 6–10 cm, upper ones bigger than lower, glaucous, green, base narrowly attenuate, apex acuminate to caudate; petiole 0.4–1.1 cm long or sessile, green, glabrescent. Inflorescences 1–5, radical, erect and elongate; peduncle 20–90 cm long, sheaths green; spike cylindrical to oblong, 10–30 by 6–7 cm; bracts 15–25, obovate, 3.7–4.8 by 3–3.6 cm, lime green turning orange-red, convex with incurved edges forming open pouches, imbricate, glabrous on upper surface except at base, glabrescent to pubescent; bracteoles 3.3–4 by 1.3–2 cm, rolled, apex bifid, white with red at apex, pubescent on upper surface, glabrous on lower surface. Flower light yellow: ovary 3–5 by 3–5 mm, glabrous or pubescent, ovules 3–10 per locule; epigynous glands ca 4 mm long; calyx 1.9–2.3 cm long, tube 0.8–1.2 cm long, apex trilobed, lobes 0.6–1.1 cm long, pubescent; floral tube 2.4–3.3 cm long, cream to very pale pink, pubescent, dorsal corolla lobe 2.1–2.8 by 1.1–1.3 cm, lateral corolla lobes 1.5–2.6 by 0.6–0.7 cm; labellum dark brown-purple striate, distinctly trilobed, midlobe 1.3–1.8 by 1.5–1.7 cm, apex truncate, bi- or trilobed, emarginate, side lobes 0.6–1.1 by 0.6–1 cm; stamen: filament 2–3 mm long; anther 0.9–1 by ca 0.4 cm, anther crest cream with brown dots, distal half dark purple, 0.8–1.6 cm long. Infructescence with accrescent bracts, yellowish red to red; pericarp inside bright orange; seeds 3–10, black; aril white.

Thailand : PENINSULAR: Chumphon, Ranong (Khlong Kamphuan), Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi (Nai Chong), Nakhon Si Thammarat (Karom), Phatthalung (Khao Pu Khao Ya), Trang (Khao Chong, Khao Phap Pha, Palian), Satun (Thale Ban, Tarutao), Songkhla (Ton Nga Chang, Saba Yoi), Pattani, Yala (Bannang Sata, Betong, Kue Long, Than To), Narathiwat (Su-ngai Padi).

Distribution : India (S Andaman), Malaysia (Malacca – type), Indonesia (Sumatra).

Ecology : Evergreen forests, from near sea level to 400 m alt. Flowering: late May–September; fruiting: August–October.

Vernacular : Krathue chang (กระทือช้าง), krathue daeng (กระทือแดง), krathue pa (กระทือป่า)(Yala); khing lam pi (ขิงลำ ปี)(Peninsular); put chang (ปุดช้าง); cha-ngo (จะเงาะ)(Malay-Pattani); da ngo (ดาเงาะ)(Pattani).

Notes: Zingiber spectabile is a large plant with tall inflorescences. It resembles Z. ottensii but is much larger and easily recognised by its large orange spike. It has the largest inflorescence of any Thai Zingiber species.