PlantNET Home DONATE TODAY | PlantNET Home | Search NSW Flora | Contact Us  
FloraOnline
Introduction
Plant Name Search
Index Search
Spatial Search
Identification Keys
Classification
Glossary
WeedAlert
Telopea Journal
Other Data Sources
NEW SOUTH WALES FLORA ONLINE Printable Page

Family ZINGIBERACEAE

Description: Perennial, rhizomatous herbs.

Leaves distichous (rarely spiral), with a long, sheathing base and a stalked or sessile lamina; usually with a membranous ligule at the upper margin of the sheath.

Inflorescences terminal on leafy shoots or on specialized floral shoots, a thyrse or spike. Flowers zygomorphic, 3-merous, bisexual. Tepals 6, in 2 whorls; outer tepals mostly sepaloid, green, fused into a tube with 2 or 3 lobes; inner tepals fused at base with 3 petaloid lobes, often unequal with the upper longer than the 2 laterals. Staminal whorls usually 2; the outer either reduced or absent, or of 2 lateral petaloid staminodes, the inner of a single fertile stamen opposite an entire or lobed labellum (formed from 2 fused petaloid staminodes). Ovary inferior, 3-locular or occasionally 1-locular; ovules many.

Fruit a capsule or fleshy berry; seeds arillate.


Distribution and occurrence: World: 40 genera, c. 1000 species, mainly Asian trops. Australia: 10 genera, 17 species, Qld, N.S.W., N.T.

External links:
Angiosperm Phylogeny Website (Family: Zingiberaceae, Order: Zingiberales)
Wikipedia

The family is of some economic importance in the production of a number of spices and condiments, e.g., Ginger, Turmeric, Cardamon and Indian Arrowroot.

Text by Peter G. Wilson & S. M. Hastings
Taxon concept:

 Key to the genera 
1Inflorescence axis branched; stamen not exserted; lateral staminodes reduced to small teeth or absentAlpinia
Inflorescence axis apparently unbranched; stamen exserted; lateral staminodes petaloidHedychium

  Privacy | Copyright | Disclaimer | About PlantNET | Cite PlantNET