Name
Classifications and Characteristics
Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
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Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
Native Distribution | Central and South America |
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Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Description and Ethnobotany
Growth Form | It is a gigantic, rhizomatous and unbranched herb. |
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Foliage | Leaves are spiral with with ligulate sheaths, oblong to oblanceolate shaped, apex acuminate, base cuneate to rounded. Ligules are short or sometimes absent. |
Stems | The stem is very stout, consisting of leafless sheaths. |
Flowers | Inflorescence, bracts are green to yellowish-green, leathery, ovate in shape. The calyx (sepal) is large, tubular, 3 parts of unequal lobes, often bigger than bracts. Corolla is 3-lobed, white or light yellow in colour. Its labellum is large and showy, either white or yellow. Stigma is cup-shaped while stamen is petaloid. |
Fruit | Capsule, slightly fleshy. Seeds are black and glossy with tiny white aril. |
Habitat | They are mostly found in wet forests and along the river beds. |
Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Herb and Spice) Medicinal: It is used in Panama by the Kuna Indians to treat hypertension and some cardiovascular diseases. |
Landscaping Features
Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage |
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Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee), Insects (Ant, Beetle, Fly, Thrip, Wasp)) |
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Plant Care and Propagation
Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
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Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils |
Foliar
Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
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Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate, Spiral |
Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong, Oblanceolate) |
Foliar Venation | Parallel |
Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
Foliar Base | Cuneate, Rounded / Obtuse |
Floral (Angiosperm)
Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
Flower Colour(s) | White, Yellow / Golden |
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Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule |
Mature Seed Colour(s) | Black |
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Mature Seed Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny |
Image Repository
Others
Master ID | 29623 |
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Species ID | 3932 |
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. |