Quick viewing(Text Mode)

Zingiberaceae for Florida

Zingiberaceae for Florida

382 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1958

ZINGIBERACEAE FOR FLORIDA

T. J. Sheehan

Agricultural Experiment Station

Gainesville

Members of the family, Zingibera- ceae, are outstanding conversation pieces and ideally suited for culture throughout most of Florida. These tropical herbs are grown in the tropics not only for their excellent foliage and , but also for dyes, perfumes, , condiments and medicinal products which are obtained from variousplant parts. There are 40 genera and over 400 in the ginger family, and the majority are native in tropical regions of the Eastern hem isphere. There are several genera well adapted to our climate and these will be discussed herein. The are rhizomatous perennials, generally with simple unbranched stems. The leaves are entire, linear lanceolate or oblong. They are either petiolate or sessile sheathing thestem. (See Fig. 1.) The flowers, terminating either leafy or leafless shoots, are borne in bracteate, cone- like spikes, heads or panicles, each bract sub Fig. 1. A. Typical of . B. Typical Flo- wer of Phaeomaria. C. with protruding anther. D. tending one or more flowers. The irregular Fruit of Phaeomaria. E. terminal on a leafless stem. F. Inflorescence terminal on a leafy stem. 6. Sessile flowers vary considerably among genera. The leaf sheathing stem. calyx is either tubular or bract-like, three parted or not. The corolla is tubular and Many of the gingers are rank-growing three parted. It contains one stamen and one , especially so if they are fertilized heav to four staminodes, the latter fused to form ily. Gingers can be handled the same as garden a lip or labellum. The stigma usually protrudes perennials as far as fertilization is concerned. beyond the anther. (See Fig. 1.) The ovary An application of a 6-6-6 fertilizer at 1 to Vk is inferior, one to three celled, and contains pounds per 100 sq. ft. or 100 feet of row in many ovules. The fruit is a thickor fleshy early spring when growth begins and then capsule containing many seeds. Flowering oc two more applications at the same rate during curs during the summer and early fall. the growing season is recommended. Ferti Culture lizer applications should be spaced six weeks apart. Gingers are relatively easy to culture, and once established require little care. They grow Planting or transplanting can be done at on a wide range of soil types from sand to any season of the year. The most advantageous lava soils, as long as the soil is moist at all time for moving is in early spring before ac times. Stream banks, land adjacent to lakes tive growth begins. The parent clumps may or near boggy areas, where the soil is con be divided as any rhizomatous herb, such as tinually moist are choice situations and will gloriosa lily. The fleshy underground root- support the best growth. If gingers are planted stock or tuber can be severed at any point, on high dry soils, frequent applications of as long as each piece has at least one good water are necessary. eye to produce a new . The size of the sections is determined by the being Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series, No. 836. divided, and may be as small as one inch SHEEHAN: ZINGIBERACEAE 383

() to over six inches long (Phaeo- ger or Shell Flower (Fig. 2). An excellent meria). Plants established from divisions often ornamental forming a dense clump of leafy do not flower until the second or third year stems of light green oblong leaves up to two of growth. Large divisions, composed of three feet in length. The irregular bell-shaped flo to five canes, will often flower the first year. wers are borne on 6 to 12 inch loose terminal Gingers may be raised from seed, but are clusters. The inflorescence is gracefully pen seldom propagated by this method, chiefly dant. The flowers are white, tinged with red because it is slower and seeds are not readily and yellow and up to two inches long, with available for most species. most of the color found on the broad curved up. The gingers are susceptible to frost injury The plants are used to make paper in Asia and are frequently frozen back to the soil and the leaf sheaths are a source of fiber line in north Florida, and occasionally in cen used in making rope. speciosa is well tral Florida during severe winters. Plants in suited as a border or hedge plant especially jured by frost generally break again from the along waterways or lakesides. underground rootstock when the weather warms up in the spring. Since the rootstocks Alpinia mutica Roxbg., the Small Shell Gin are close to the soil surface, a mulch of pine ger or Orchid Ginger (Fig. 3), is similar to straw or leaves is desirable to protect the shal A. speciosa, but is a more diminutive spe low rootstocks from cold injury and help con cies. The inflorescence is erect with fewer serve moisture in the soil and hence foster and smaller flowers. After flowering, clusters better growth. of felt covered red fruits develop and remain Key for a long time, adding to the esthetic value This generic key is designed to cover only of the plant. those species described below, and not for (Vieill) K. Schum., Red all species which are grown in Florida. Ginger (Fig. 4), is very popular in the Ha waiian Islands where it is grown as a com Leaves spirally arranged Costus (2) mercial cut flower. The plants are similar to Leaves, 2 ranked Inflorescence terminal on a leafy stem Flowers extremely fragrant, butterfly- like, loose inflorescence, white or yel low Hedychium (4) Flowers with slight fragrance, not but- terfly-kke Stems 6 feet or more, leaves many Alpinia (1) Stemless or not over 6 inches, leaves 2 Kaempferia (5) Inflorescence terminal on a leafless stem Leafy stem 6 feet or more, leafless flowering stem to 5 feet, inflorescence subtended by loose leathery bracts Phaeomeria (6) Leafy stem, short to 4 feet, leafless flowering stem to one foot Inflorescence a tight imbricated cone (7) Inflorescence cone-like, bracts not tightly imbricated (3) 1. ALPINIA. The largest genus of the family is composed of some 200 species, three of which are suggested for Florida. Alpinia speciosa (Wendl.) K. Schum (Al pinia ntitans (Ande.) Roscoe), the Shell Gin Fig. 2. Alpinia speciosa. 384 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1958

the shell gingers and are often mistaken for them when they are not in flower. The termi nal inflorescence is composed of many large, loose, vivid-red bracts and will usually be up to one foot long. Each bract subtends a small white flower. One of the interesting features of this plant is the production of plantlets on the old florescence. After flowering, numerous plantlets will develop among the bracts which can be removed after they are four to six inches long and set out as individual plants. In some cases, if the plantlets are not removed, they, too, will flower. This secondary inflo rescence is usually small and may also develop a few plantlets. 2. COSTUS. This is another relatively large genus of about 140 species, but with relatively few in general cultivation. Two species, however, are definitely worthy of consideration. This genus is commonly referred to as the Spiral Flag Gingers, since the leaves are spirally arranged on the stems. Propagation of this genus is readly accomplished by stem cuttings. Costus igneus N. E. Br., Orange Costus (Fig. 5), is a very fine ginger from Brazil Fig. 3. Alpinia mutica. and one that deserves wider use than it has had in the past. It is a low-growing plant seldom more than one foot in height. The dark green oblong leaves, four to six inches long, are shiny above and have a dull pur plish cast beneath. The leaves are generally massed near the top of the stem and look like a rosette. The bracts of the inflorescence in this plant are inconspicuous and when in flower it appears that the florets arise directly from the terminal growing point. The bright orange flowers are two inches or more across, the showy portion being a four-parted lip which is petaloid. An orange stamen protrudes from the center of the lip. Usually only one flower appears at a time and a new flower appears daily during the flowering season. This plant should do well as a pot plant and has commercial possibilities as such.

Costus speciosus (Koen.) Sm. Crape Gin ger (Fig. 6), is undoubtedly one of the more striking gingers. The oblong dark green leaves are smooth above and pubescent beneath, up to one foot long. The mature shoots grow to 10 feet in height. These shoots are topped by a dense inflorescence seldom over three to four inches long. The floral head is com posed of stiff, brownish-red bracts, each sub- Fig. 4. Alpinia purpurata. SHEEHAN: ZINGIBERACEAE 385

tending a very showy flower. The flower is composed of a white tubular corolla with a large, white, papery lip. The one-sided lip has a yellow center, is almost funnel shaped and up to three inches long. The stamen has a white petal-like stalk, up to two inches in length and the anthers are borne well below the tip of the stamen. This plant recovers rapidly in the spring after being cut to the ground by frost.

3. CURCUMA. This genus of some 50 or more species is native to India and Aus tralia. The clasping leaf petioles make the plant appear to have a stem about one foot high, whereas, the plant is actually stemless. Probably this genus is most widely known as the source of (Curcuma longa L. (C. domestica Valet)). The foliage is used in floral arrangements because of its outstanding durability and for the variegations found in some species. Roscoe, Rose-purple Gin ger (Fig. 7), is one of the more popular members of this genus. The light green, thin, ovate, acuminate leaf blades are often over Fig. 5. Costus igneus. a foot long and four inches wide, with a brownish-purple stripe along the upper mid rib. The clasping petioles give a false im pression of a stem up to twelve inches high. The leaves usually die back in the fall and new leaves develop in spring. The inflores cence appears with the leaves in the spring and is borne on a leafless stalk seldom reach ing more than a foot in height. The loose up per bracts are rose-purple fading to white near the stem, the lower bracts are green. Small yellow flowers are borne between the bracts. Curcuma pefiolata Roxbg., Green Lily, is also very popular as a garden subject. 4. HEDYCHIUM. A small genus of 40 species with highly developed staminodes and loose . The word Hedychium is a combination of Greek words meaning "sweet snow", referring to the fragrant white flowers of some species. Koenig., Ginger Lily or Butterfly Lily (Fig. 8), has extremely frag rant butterfly-like flowers. The fragrance is so strong it is almost overpowering when con fined to a small closed room. The white flo wers, composed chiefly of a petal-like stamen, Fig. 6. Costus speciosus. are used extensively as lei flowers in Hawaii. 386 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1958

The leafy stem, up to 6 feet tall, has alter nate, sessile, medium green lanceolate leaves up to 24 inches long and five inches across. The leaves are pubescent beneath. The inflo rescence is an imbricated spike, to 12 inches long, borne atop the leafy stem. The light green bracts turn brown during the flowering period and are subtended by two to three flower buds. The showy white flowers are up to three inches long. The conspicuous part of the flower is composed of a pair of petal- like staminodes and a broad lip. The flowers last one day, but are replaced by new flowers opening in the early evening and lasting through the afternoon of the following day.

Hedychium flavum Roxbg., Yellow Ginger, differs from H. coronarium in that the flowers are yellow and three to five buds subtend each bract. The spike is seldom over five inches in height. Leaf size and stem characteristics are quite similar. This fragrant yellow flower is also widely used as a lei flower in Hawaii. Roscoe is also grown to some extent and differs from the above in that each yellow flower has a two- Fig. 7. Curcuma zedoaria. inch long, bright-red stamen which is larger than any other part of the flower. These ex- serted give the inflorescence a very feathery appearance.

5. KAEMPFERIA. A genus of stemless herbs native to the Old World tropics. The plants are usually composed of two sessile leaves which, because of their texture and color, are of great interest. Kaempferia puchella (Kaempferia roscoe- ana), Flower-a-Day plant (Fig. 9). During the flowering season, which lasts at least three months in Florida, this species produces a flower a day, from whence it derives its common name. Leaves of this plant are un usual enough that it can be classed, also, as an excellent foliage plant. The leaves, often a foot long and four to six inches across, are dull green in varying shades giving a striped effect with a general purplish cast and are entire with undulate margins. The flowers are borne between the clasping leaf petioles. Each plant usually has only two leaves, unless offsets are present. The light lavender flowers are one inch across, and last a day, opening in the early morning and dying by late after noon. Occasionally, a plant will skip a day between flowers and often when this occurs F;g. 8. Hedychium coronarium. SHEEHAN: ZINGIBERACEAE 387

two flowers will appear the day after the skip. This plant is best handled as a pot sub ject. Kaempferia goes dormant in the winter months. The plant can be kept on the dry side during the winter months and when growth begins in early spring, normal watering is resumed. 6. PHAEOMERIA. This is probably the most spectacular genus in the ginger family. The genus is composed of some 25 species native to New Guinea and Tropical Asia. Its hardiness in north and north central Florida is doubtful. Phaeomeria magnified (Roscoe) K. Schum, the Torch ginger (Fig. 10), is a spectacular plant. Canes grow 20 feet tall under ideal tropical conditions. The alternate lanceolate leaves grow to a length of 28 inches and four to six inches in width. The leaf petioles are seldom over one inch in length. The bright red waxy cone-like inflorescences are much sought after for flower arrangements. The heads are up to 10 inches long and 8 to 10 inches wide and borne on leafless stems up to five feet tall. The showy part of the head Fig. 9. Kaempferia puchella. is composed of red or pink waxy bracts. The lower bracts are broad and loose, forming the

Fig. 10. Phaeomaria magnifica. Fig. 11. Zingiber officinale. 388 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1958 base of the torch and are flowerless. The Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Commercial or tight imbricated bracts forming the cone are Jamaica Ginger (Fig. 11). The leafy stems, white margined, spirally arranged and sub up to three feet tall, have alternate narrow, tended by a small red flower. The red lip lanceolate, sessile leaves up to twelve inches with a fine yellow margin is the only portion long and one inch wide and are dark green of the flower that protrudes from the bract. above and lighter beneath. The cone-like in After flowering, as the seed pods develop, florescence, two inches long and one inch the bracts turn brown and wither, but re thick, has yellow-green imbricated bracts, main attached among the dark maroon pods subtended by yellow-green and purple flo giving the appearance of a burned-out torch. wers. As the inflorescence is small and borne An almost white form is found in cultivation beneath the leaves, it is often missed by the in the Hawaiian Islands. gardener. The tuberous root is harvested and cured for use in making various ginger pro 7. ZINGIBER. This genus of over 80 ducts. An average acre will yield 1500 pounds species is native to tropical Asia. Plants of cured ginger ten months after planting. of this group are generally small with (L.) Smith, Pine Cone dense cone-like inflorescences borne on leaf Lily (Fig. 12), is a very popular plant in less stems. This genus contains the true gin north Florida gardens where it thrives very ger of commerce (Zingiber officinale). well. The leafy stems are three or more feet tall bearing broader leaves than Z. officinale. The leaves are 8 to 10 inches long and two to three inches wide and slightly pubescent be neath. The imbricated, waxy, cone-like in florescence up to 8 inches tall and two inches thick is borne on a 12 inch stem. The greenish bracts turn bright red as the inflorescence matures. The bracts are subtended by small yellow flowers. Usually only one flower ap pears at a time and is not very conspicuous. When the cone is squeezed, a sudsy slimy juice is produced which has been reported as being used as a hair shampoo by the Hawaiians. The gingers are relatively unknown as gar den flowers and consequently gardeners are missing a splendid opportunity by not grow ing them. It is hoped that this paper will en courage a few more people to grow these outstanding ornamentals.

SELECTED REFERENCES 1. Bailey, L. H. 1949. Manuel of Cultivated Plants, The MacMillan Company, New York. 2. Bailey, L. H., and Bailey, E. Z. 1941. Hortus Second, The MacMillan Company, New York. 3. Kuck, L. E., and Tongg, R. C. 1943. Hawaiian Flowers, Tongg Publishing Company, Honolulu. 4. MacMillan, H. F. 1956. Tropical Planting and Garden ing, MacMillan & Company Ltd., London. 5. Neal, M. C. 1948. In Gardens of Hawaii, Bishop Fig. 12. Zingiber zerumbet. Museum Special Publication 40, Honolulu.

Top View