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Hornstedtia scyphifera var. scyphifera
| Family Name: | Zingiberaceae |
| Synonyms: | Hornstedtia scyphus Retz., Stenochasma urceolare Griff. |
| Common Name: | Great Spindle Ginger, Walking Ginger, 杯状大豆蔻 |
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 | Irregular, Leggy |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, Sumatra |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Vulnerable (VU)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a perennial rhizomatous herb, up to 3 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its leaves are green, narrowly lanceolate. |
| Flowers | The red inflorescence develops from the rhizome, measuring about 15 cm long. Young inflorescences are spindle-shaped, but upper bracts open up into a cup shape, filled with mucilaginous liquid. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | The leafy shoots of mature plants are about 3 metres high and areoften on stilt roots. The inflorescencesarise from the rhizome on very short peduncles. The tightly arranged broadlyovate bracts are dark maroon-red withwhite transverse reticulation. The young inflorescences are spindle shaped, but asthe flowering progresses, the upper partopens up and forms the typical cups, oftenfilled with mucilaginous liquid. The brightred flowers with anthers closely pressingagainst the small labellum reminds of oneof duck beaks. The species is commonin forests of the Malay Peninsula and hasalso been reported from Borneo andSumatra, but is in decline in Singa |
| Habitat | It can be found in lowland evergreen forests. In Singapore, it can be found in the secondary rainforests of Central Catchment. |
| Etymology | The genus Hornstedtia is named in honour of Claës Fredric Hornstedt (1758-1809), a Swedish surgeon and naturalist. The specific epithet scyphifera is derived from Greek meaning "cup-bearing", referring to the shape of the mature inflorescence. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Form |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water, Moderate Water, Occasional Misting |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Division |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root), Aboveground (Prop / Stilt Root) |
|---|---|
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Underground (Rhizome) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
References
| References | Leong-Škornicková, J. (2010). Spindle gingers – jewels of Singapores forests. Gardenwise. Vol 34. 24-25. |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 816 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2111 |
| 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. |
