Taken in Spice Garden, Singapore
Taken in Singapore Botanic Garden (April 2014)
Reference: http://theprivatenaturalist.wordpress.com/tag/crepe-ginger/
Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior), Hawaiian = ‘awapuhi ko‘oko‘o
– A herbaceous perennial, individual plants grow in large clumps whose
stalks can be as much as 6 m high with leaves as long as 85 cm. Although
it is cultivated throughout the tropics and has escaped to become
naturalized in some localities, its original native range is thought to
be a few isolated islands in Indonesia. Typically it prefers a moist
climate with somewhat acidic soil (pH = 5.6 to 7.5). It prefers full sun
but does well in the partial shade of the rain forest. It is found at
altitudes up to 9,000 feet. The various plant tissues and parts of this
species of ginger are rich in volatile aromatic compounds. The majority
of the essential oils extracted from the leaves, stems, flowers, and
rhizomes of Torch Ginger are monoterpene hydrocarbons. Terpenes
are the primary constituents of the essential oils of many types of
plants and flowers. Essential oils are used widely as natural flavor
additives for food, as fragrances in perfume, and in traditional and
alternative medicines. Synthetic variations and derivatives of natural
terpenes and terpenoids also greatly expand the variety of aromas used
in perfumery and flavors used in food additives. Vitamin A is an example
of a terpene. Currently, this and other species of ginger are the
subjects of extensive research into the various antioxidant compounds
present in their leaves and rhizomes.
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