| Alpinia zerumbet | |
|---|---|
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| Alpinia zerumbet as a landscape plant | |
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| A. zerumbet fruitdehiscing.[1] | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Zingiberales |
| Family: | Zingiberaceae |
| Genus: | Alpinia |
| Species: | A. zerumbet |
| Binomial name | |
| Alpinia zerumbet | |
| Synonyms | |
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Alpinia zerumbet, commonly known asshell ginger amongother names, is aperennialspecies ofginger native toEast Asia. The plants can grow up to 2.5 to 3 meters (8 to 10 ft) tall and bear colorful funnel-shaped flowers. They are grown as ornamentals and their leaves are used in cuisine and traditional medicine.
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 inEnglish include "pink porcelain lily", "variegated ginger, and "light galangal".[4]
In Japan,A. zerumbet is calledgettō (ゲットウ [月桃]) in standardJapanese. In the languages of theRyukyu Islands, it is known assannin (サンニン)on Okinawa,shanin (シャニン) onTanegashima in the Ōsumi Islands,sa'nen (サネン)on Amami Ōshima,sani (サニ)on Okinoerabujima,samin (サミン)on Miyako-jima,samin (サミン),sa'nin (サニン) andsami (サミ)on Ishigaki Island,sami (サミ)on Taketomi Island andsa'nin (サニン)on Iriomote Island. It is known assouka (ソウカ) onChichijima in the Bonin Islands andsōka (ソーカ) in theDaitō Islands east of the Ryukyus.[5][6]
In Taiwan,A. zerumbet is calledyuètáo (月桃) inMandarin Chinese,hó͘-chú-hoe (虎子花) orge̍h-thô/go̍eh-thô (月桃) inTaiwanese Hokkienkiéu-kiông (枸薑) orngie̍t-thò (月桃) inSiyen Hakka. In the island's aboriginal languages, it is known assilu inBunun,jiaboe andgaryo inPaiwan,bussiyan,bissiyan andbassiyan inAtayal[7] andlalengac inSakizaya.[8]
In China, it is calledyànshānjiāng (艷山薑), as well asyùtáo (玉桃),cǎoběn zhíwù (草本植物) anddà húluóbo (大胡蘿蔔) among other names.[9]
Native to eastern Asia,Alpinia zerumbet is a rhizomatous, evergreen tropical perennial that grows in upright clumps 8 to 10 ft (2.4 to 3.0 m) tall in tropical climates. It bears funnel-formed flowers. Flowers have white or pinkperianths with yellowlabella with red spots and stripes.[10] There are threestamens, but only one haspollen. There is onepistil. The fruit is globose with many striations. In more typical conditions, it reaches 4 to 8 ft (1.2 to 2.4 m) feet tall in the green house, and 3 to 4 ft (0.91 to 1.22 m) feet tall, as a house plant.[11]
It was originally calledAlpinia speciosa, which was also the scientific name oftorch ginger. To avoid the confusion, it was renamedA. zerumbet while torch ginger was reclassified in the genusEtlingera. No species is accepted asA. speciosa today.[12]
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.[citation needed]
The long leaf blades ofA. zerumbet are used for wrappingzongzi, 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 wrapmuchi rice cakes.[citation needed]
The plant's dried fruits are treated as one of the numerous medicinal spice ingredients in aSichuanhot pot soup base under the nameshārén (沙仁) inSichuan Mandarin Chinese.[citation needed]
Statistically, Okinawan natives who consume atraditional diet that includesA. zerumbet have a very long life expectancy.[13] Recent research has investigated its effects on humanlongevity and thephytochemicals that may be responsible.[14]
A. zerumbet contains manykavalactones structurally related to the compounds inkava (Piper methysticum) and may[clarification needed] help prevent high glucose induced cell damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.[15]
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