Algae and Plants
91
Etlingera elatoir (Jack) (R.M. Sm.)
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Zingiberaceae
Common name: Torch ginger, ginger
flower, red ginger lily, torch lily, wild
ginger.
Distribution: Native to parts of Southeast Asia; India to the Pacific islands;
pantropical distribution (National Tropical Botanical Garden).
Habitat: Near rivers, wet habitats.
Description: It is a rhizomatous perennial herb up to 6 m tall. Leaf blades are
green, hairless, lanceolate in shape, and
up to 81 cm long. Pseudostems (formed
by the leaf sheaths) emerge from underground rhizomes and are tall and
arching. Large, torch-like, up to 1.5 m
tall flower stalks emerge from fleshy
underground rhizomes. Inflorescences
have waxy, red to pink, white-edged
bracts and are pinecone shaped with a
skirt of larger bracts. Individual flowers emerge from between the colorful
bracts and have a dark red labellum
(lip petal) with a bright yellow margin
(Hawaiian Plants and Tropical Flowers;
Elden Project).
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition (g/100 g DM)
Moisture a CHO b Protein Fat Fiber Ash Energy c
94.9
36.4
16.2 1.6 19.8 17.6
225
a g/100 g WW.
b Carbohydrate.
c kcal/100 g DW.