Heqychium
coronarium
Koenig
ZINGIBERACEAE
Vernacular name:
Tamil -
Seemai kitchili kizhangu,
Karppura ver, Cantira mooligai
Threat status:
Lower Risk near threatened - KA &
KL
Lower Risk least concern
- TN
Habit:
Rhizomatous herb
Habitat:
Along
streamside and marshy areas in higher altitudes
Altitude:
800 - 1800
m
Distribution: Global:
India, Sri
Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar and Malaysia.
National:
Found in
Eastern Himalayas of Sikkim, Darjeeling district of
West Bengal, Assam as well as in southern India.
Regional:
Common
along damp localities of higher altitudes in the Western and
Eastern Ghats in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Widely
naturalised in tropical America. Commonly grown as an ornamental
plant in many parts of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Description:
A robust,
rhizomatous, tall, herbaceous plant, growing
1-3 m
height. Rootstock
horizontal, 2-5 em diameter, fleshy, jointed, white, faintly
fragrant. Leaves arranged in two rows, lanceolate
to
oblong-elliptic, 20-40 x 5-10 em, base wedge-shaped to
sub-acute, apex gradually tapering into acuminate with a
tail-like tip, margin entire, hairless, papery, sheathing at
base, distinctly stalked.
Flowering spikes
10-18 em
long; floral bract 5-8 em long, conspicuous, greenish,
consisting 3-4 flowers in each.
Flowers
bisexual,
about 10 em long, pure-white or tinged with yellow, fragrant,
with broad round to inverted heart-shaped lip that is 2-lobed at
apex. Capsules globose to oblong, about 2 cm
across, hairless, dehiscing by 3-valves, red when ripe.
Seeds many, small, black, covered with crimson red-coloured
aril.
Phenology: Flowering
&
Fruiting:
May to
September
Medicinal uses:
Rhizomes
are used as carminative and stimulant. Rhizome paste is applied
to bruises and sprains.
Trade
information:
Local,
regional and national. This plant is an adulterant of
Hedychium
spicatum
whose
rhizomes are traded under the name Kapur kachari.
Mode of
propagation:
By
rhizomes and seeds
Special
characters:
This
robust plant usually appears in clumps. The basal portion of
each leaf has two finger-like projections called 'ligule'.
Sterile male floral parts are modified into attractive
petal-like structures. The long fragrant flowers, conspicuous
floral bracts and reddish fruits are other striking characters.
