Costus productus
Costus productus
Dwarf orange ginger or dwarf spiral ginger, orange costus ginger, orange spiral ginger, spiral ginger, (Costus productus Gleason ex Maas, 1976) is a herbaceous species belonging to the Costaceae family.
Systematics –
Domain Eukaryota,
Kingdom Plantae,
Division Magnoliophyta,
Class Liliopsida,
Subclass Zingiberidae,
Order Zingiberales,
Family Costaceae,
Genus Costus,
Species C. productus.
The following are synonymous terms:
– Costus juruanus var. juruanus;
– Costus productus Gleason.
Etymology –
The term Costus was given by Linnaeus in homage to Dioscorides, who had described a plant believed to be similar, called Kostos.
The specific epithet productus derives from the Latin adjective “productus, a, um,” meaning prolonged, referring to the relatively long callus of the bracts.
Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Costus productus is a plant native to southern Colombia and Peru.
Its natural habitat in these areas is the humid foothill forests of the eastern Andes, between 300 and 700 meters above sea level.
Description –
Costus productus is a perennial, evergreen, rhizomatous herbaceous plant.
Its stems are 0.6–1.2 m tall and have a closed, green tubular sheath and a ligule about 2 cm long.
The leaves are spirally arranged; they are simple, entire, obovate with a pointed tip, 16–25 cm long and 6–10 cm wide.
The inflorescences are terminal, ovoid, 5–10 cm long, and consist of bright orange-red imbricate bracts, up to 2.5 cm long, with a pointed appendage and a callus (hardened tip) 0.6–1.2 cm long. They enclose a tubular, hermaphroditic flower, up to about 5 cm long, and pale yellow to orange-yellow in color.
The flower consists of a calyx, about 1 cm long, with three nearly triangular lobes, a corolla with a tube about 1 cm long and three oblong lobes 3.5-4 cm long and about 1 cm wide, a fertile stamen 3.5 cm long, and a tubular labellum, formed by the fused sterile stamens, 3-3.5 cm long, orange-red at the tip.
Pollination is ornithophilous.
Cultivation –
Costus productus is one of the most floriferous and ornamental plants of the genus.
This species can be grown in tropical and humid subtropical climates, where flowering continues for much of the year. Cultivation can also be attempted in warm temperate climates, where temperatures near 0°C are a brief exception. It should be grown in a location sheltered from rain. In this case, it has a marked dormant period in the winter months, or at worst, the loss of the aerial parts, but it recovers promptly in spring and flowers in summer.
For cultivation, it requires a partially shaded location and well-drained, organically rich soil, kept consistently moist but not waterlogged. Due to its compact size, it is ideal as a ground cover and border plant, as well as a stand-alone specimen.
It can also be grown in pots for bright interiors, preferably with a minimum temperature of 15°C, using an organic substrate with 30% silica sand or perlite to improve drainage. Watering should be regular and abundant in summer, less frequent in winter, but without allowing the substrate to dry out completely. Fertilization should be done during the growing season with balanced, water-soluble products with micronutrients.
The cultivated forms of Costus productus are all C. productus var. productus, and several cultivars exist.
Propagation occurs by seed, which must first be soaked in water for 1-2 days in humus-rich soil with 30% sand or perlite, kept moist at a temperature of 22-26°C.
It can also be propagated by division and by stem portions, placed horizontally under a thin layer of soil, at a temperature of 22-24°C.
Uses and Traditions –
Costus productus is a plant known by several common names, including dwarf orange ginger, dwarf spiral ginger, orange costus ginger, orange spiral ginger, spiral ginger, or orange tulip ginger, dwarf orange ginger, or green mountain spiral flag.
In the past, Costus productus was often mistakenly identified as Costus curvibracteatus.
The flowers of Costus productus are edible. The Yanesha people use Costus productus, along with Bactris gasipaes and Bromeliad species, to treat the symptoms of epilepsy.
It is also cultivated as an ornamental plant.
Preparation Method –
Costus productus is a plant that, in addition to being cultivated as an ornamental, has edible flowers that are sometimes eaten in salads, while the cut inflorescences are used in floral arrangements.
Guido Bissanti
Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora delle Regioni italiane.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (eds.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora d’Italia, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and Experiences with Medicinal Herbs, Ennsthaler Publishers.
Photo source:
– https://iiif.rbge.org.uk/herb/iiif/E01378364/full/1600,/0/default.jpg
Warning: The pharmaceutical applications and dietary uses are provided for informational purposes only and do not in any way constitute medical prescriptions. We therefore decline any responsibility for their use for curative, aesthetic, or nutritional purposes.