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Alpinia aquatica (Retz.) Roscoe

Family Name:	Zingiberaceae
Synonyms:	Languas melanocarpa (Teijsm. & Binn.) Burkill, Alpinia melanocarpa (Teijsm. & Binn.) Ridl.
Common Name:	Aquatic Ginger, Aquatic Galangal, 水山姜

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Lots of Water

Moderate Water

Bird-Attracting Plant

Butterfly Host Plant

Native to Singapore

Coastal Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Herbaceous Plant

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Herbaceous Plant
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Native Distribution	Singapore, China (Yunnan), South India and West Malesia
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Coastal Forest, Freshwater Swamp Forest, Riverine), Shoreline (Backshore)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR))

Growth Form	It is a herbaceous plant consisting of a horizontally growing stem (rhizome) from which several "shoots" arise. These shoots, up to 2 m tall consist of the leaf sheaths of consecutive, alternate leaves wrapped around each other. Plant parts contain aromatic oils, so exude a fragrance when they are crushed.
Foliage	Each leaf consists a long leaf sheath and a lance-shaped leaf that is 15-20 cm long and 5-6 cm wide.
Flowers	Its 19 mm long flowers develop on shoots that are up to 15 cm long, and have white or pale pink petals.

Fruit	Its pea-like black fleshy fruit is one-seeded.
Habitat	It grows in sandy beaches and swamp forests. It is found locally in Pulau Semakau and widely planted in HortPark, Kent Ridge Park and Singapore Botanic Gardens (Ginger Garden).
Associated Fauna	Its flowers are pollinated by bees and the fruits are eaten by birds. It is also the host plant for the Chocolate Demon butterfly (Ancistroides nigrita maura).
Cultivation	It can propagated by seed or division of the rhizome.
Etymology	Latin, Alpinia, after Prosper Alpino (1553-1617), an Italian botanist who introduced coffee and bananas to Europe. Latin, aquatica, living in water, referring to the growing conditions of this plant species.

Landscaping	It is suitable for parks, gardens, and also for edges of ponds and waterlogged soil.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers
Landscape Uses	Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Coastal, Beachfront / Shoreline, Riverine, Marsh / Bog

Thematic Landscaping

Naturalistic Garden, Water Garden, Marsh Garden

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Bird-Attracting (Fruits), Butterfly Host Plant (Leaves)
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna)

Rootzone Tolerance	Moist Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site, Does not Drain Site), Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Fertile Loamy Soils
Propagation Method	Storage Organ, Division

Foliar Arrangement Along Stem

Alternate

Flower Location	Axillary
Flower Symmetry	Bilateral

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Black
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Non-Accessory Fruit

Images

Master ID	30729
Species ID	5048
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.