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Costus erythrophyllus
| Family Name: | Costaceae |
| Common Name: | Violet Spiral Flag, Red Wine Costus, Oxblood Ginger |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Amazonian Colombia, Peru, Ecuador & Brazil |
|---|---|
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is an unbranched, rhizomatous perennial which can grow up to 0.6 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Bluish green above while bright red below the leaves, which gives the common name; spiral and mostly crowded at the apex, petiolate short, glabrous, obovate to oblong, measuring 5 - 10 cm long and 1.5 - 2.5 cm wide; base cuneate, apex acute to acuminate, margin entire. |
| Flowers | Inflorescence, spike, terminal arrangement, flowers large, bracts red to slightly pale pink, broadly ovate; calyx red and puberulous, corolla white tubular and glabrous; stamens 4 - 5 cm long with pinkish white anther of 10 mm long. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: This species is used in the Dominican Republic and United States for diabetes. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Indoor Plant, Container Planting |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Occasional Misting, Lots of Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Division |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Red |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate, Oblong) |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute, Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Red, Pink |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Individual Flower Shape | Tubular |
| Inflorescence Type | Spike |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 569 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1865 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
