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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 5 m |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Large perennial herb forming clumps up to 3-4.5 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The large, lanceolate leaves resemble banana leaves. |
| Stems | Pseudostems emerge aboveground from an underground, horizontal stem known as a rhizome. The rhizome has a creeping habit, producing clumps of pseudostems. |
| Flowers | The flower stem is produced by the rhizome (underground horizontal stem). The inflorescence is a spike or head composed of porcelain-white bracts embedded with tiny, yellow true flowers. The flowers are arranged in 3-4 concentric circles on a flat base known as a receptacle. |
| Fruit | Fleshy, indehiscent fruits are known as capsules and contain many, black seeds. They are arranged in a round, fruiting head (2.5 cm wide) |
| Etymology | Its specific epithet elatior means tall, which refers to the plant height. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Herb or Spice) |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Parks & Gardens |
| Thematic Landscaping | Silver Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Division |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Leathery, Thick |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Lifespan on Plant | Several Days |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Green, Red |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Non-Accessory Fruit |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Black |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 697 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1992 |
| 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. |
