Alpinia zerumbet

Alpinia zerumbet, commonly known as shell ginger among other names, is a perennial species of ginger native to East Asia. The plants can grow up to Template:Convert tall and bear colorful funnel-shaped flowers. They are grown as ornamentals and their leaves are used in cuisine and traditional medicine.

Names

Alpinia zerumbet is called a "shell ginger" or "shell flower" most commonly, because its individual pink flowers, especially when in bud, resemble sea shells. Other common names in English include "pink porcelain lily", "variegated ginger, and "light galangal".

In Japan, A. zerumbet is called gettō () in standard Japanese. In the languages of the Ryukyu Islands, it is known as sannin () on Okinawa, shanin () on Tanegashima in the Ōsumi Islands, sa'nen () on Amami Ōshima, sani () on Okinoerabujima, samin () on Miyako-jima, samin (), sa'nin () and sami () on Ishigaki Island, sami () on Taketomi Island and sa'nin () on Iriomote Island. It is known as souka () on Chichijima in the Bonin Islands and sōka () in the Daitō Islands east of the Ryukyus.

In Taiwan, A. zerumbet is called yuètáo () in Mandarin Chinese, hó͘-chú-hoe () or ge̍h-thô/go̍eh-thô () in Taiwanese Hokkien kiéu-kiông () or ngie̍t-thò () in Siyen Hakka. In the island's aboriginal languages, it is known as silu in Bunun, jiaboe and garyo in Paiwan, bussiyan, bissiyan and bassiyan in Atayal and lalengac in Sakizaya.

In China, it is called yànshānjiāng (), as well as yùtáo (), cǎoběn zhíwù () and dà húluóbo () among other names.

Characteristics

Native to eastern Asia, Alpinia zerumbet is a rhizomatous, evergreen tropical perennial that grows in upright clumps Template:Convert tall in tropical climates. It bears funnel-formed flowers. Flowers have white or pink perianths with yellow labella with red spots and stripes. There are three stamens, but only one has pollen. There is one pistil. The fruit is globose with many striations. In more typical conditions, it reaches Template:Convert feet tall in the green house, and Template:Convert feet tall, as a house plant.

It was originally called Alpinia speciosa, which was also the scientific name of torch ginger. To avoid the confusion, it was renamed A. zerumbet while torch ginger was reclassified in the genus Etlingera. No species is accepted as A. speciosa today.

File:Alpinia zerumbet2.jpg

Alpinia zerumbet

Cultivation

Alpinia zerumbet is best grown in rich medium-wet, to wet well drained soils in full sun to part shade. Afternoon shade in hot summer climates, is recommended. Indoors, the plant must have bright light and humid conditions. Flowering rarely occurs before the second year.

Uses

The long leaf blades of A. zerumbet are used for wrapping zongzi, a traditional Chinese dish made of rice stuffed with different fillings. In Okinawa, Japan, its leaves are sold for making an herbal tea and are also used to flavor noodles and wrap muchi rice cakes.

The plant's dried fruits are treated as one of the numerous medicinal spice ingredients in a Sichuan hot pot soup base under the name shārén () in Sichuan Mandarin Chinese.

Statistically, Okinawan natives who consume a traditional diet that includes A. zerumbet have a very long life expectancy. Recent research has investigated its effects on human longevity and the phytochemicals that may be responsible.

A. zerumbet contains many kavalactones structurally related to the compounds in kava (Piper methysticum) and mayTemplate:Clarify help prevent high glucose induced cell damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Gallery

• Flowers of Alpinia zerumbet, the shell ginger
  Flowers of Alpinia zerumbet, the shell ginger
• Alpinia zerumbet variegata, cultivated for ornamental use
  Alpinia zerumbet variegata, cultivated for ornamental use
• A. zerumbet inflorescence protected by two bracts before flower bloom
  A. zerumbet inflorescence protected by two bracts before flower bloom
• A closeup of the A. zerumbet flower with its shell shape
  A closeup of the A. zerumbet flower with its shell shape
• Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm., Hawaii
  Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm., Hawaii
• Alpinia zerumbet, Hawaii (island)
  Alpinia zerumbet, Hawaii (island)

External links

• Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) Burtt. et Smith Medicinal Plant Images Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University) Template:In lang Template:In lang