Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
|---|
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Endemic to Borneo |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Large rhizomatous herb to 3m tall |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaflets 15-35cm long by 5-7 cm wide, mid - dark green, glossy on upper surface. |
| Flowers | Inflorescence branched; flowers 1.5-4cm long (from base of ovary to tip of anther). Base color of lip dull red or light - dark reddish brown with faint white stripes or striations, centre of lip along the mid vein white. |
| Habitat | Often found near streams; also often growing as a semi-aquatic species in freshwater swamp forests. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: The essential oil extracted from the rhizomes of this species has been shown to be able to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus var. aureus, a disease causing bacteria. (Yusoff MM, Ibrahim H and Hamid NA, 2011) Reference: Chemical characterization and antimicrobial activity of rhizome essential oils of very closely allied Zingiberaceae species endemic to Borneo: Alpinia ligulata K. Schum. and Alpinia nieuwenhuizii Val. in Chem Biodivers. 8(5) 916-23. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Form |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Riverine, Marsh / Bog |
| Thematic Landscaping | Water Garden, Marsh Garden, Bird & Wildlife Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water, Moderate Water, Occasional Misting |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Waterlogged Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Storage Organ (Rhizome), Division |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Brown, Pink, Red, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Thin |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31745 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6144 |
| 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. |
