58. Alpinia purpurata

It grows as a shrub 60 –100 cm tall. The leaves are dark green on the upper surface and pale green on the lower surface. They are elliptic to narrowly ovate. The flowers are about 5 cm long, funnelshaped in violet, pink, or white colour. The fruits are about 1.5 cm long ellipsoid capsules. They become glabrous and glossy at maturity.

Use:

The bitter juice of the leaves or roots is antibacterial, diaphoretic and expectorant. It is used in the treatment of serious catarrhal infections. An infusion of the roots and leaves is applied to boils and sores to reduce swellings. The seeds are used as an antidote for snake bites. Tests have shown that a methanol extract of the leaves possesses significant anti-inflammatory activity.

58. Scientific name: Alpinia purpurata (VIEILL.) K. SCHUM.

Common names:

red ginger, platanillo

Family:

Zingiberaceae

Origin:

New Guinea

Description:

Alpinia purpurata is an evergreen, herbaceous, perennial plant producing a clump of leafy stems 3 - 4 metres tall from an underground, creeping rhizome. The alternately arranged leaves are shortstalked. The glossy green, simple leaf blade is lanceolate with a length of usually 30 to 70, rarely up to 80 cm and a width of 10 to 22 cm. The terminal, up to 30 cm long inflorescences usually wear red (occasionally pink or white in cultivated forms), with a length of up to 3 cm ovate or broadly ovate bracts. In the axils of the bracts are one or two, rarely up to five flowers over reddish bracts. The plant prefers a position in light shade. It requires a moist and fertile soil.

Use:

The fruit is used to treat sores. A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of stomach complaints.