Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Family
Food- Fruits, rhizomes ocassionally eaten. Medicine- It has many historical uses in Ayurveda, where the rhizome has been used to treat fever, rash, asthma, bronchitis, and intestinal worms.
Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal
Thrives in warm, wet climates with moist soil. Often found in tropical forests or disturbed areas.
It is tall dramatic perennial herb can grow up to 300 cm tall in frost-free areas but smaller in pots.
Stem is reddish, slende, slightly woody at the base with a spiral arrangement.
Leaves are large, dark green, oblong to lance-shaped, 15-20 cm long, 6-10 cm wide. Arranged spirally along the stem, with short petioles. Velvety texture underneath.
Flowers are clustered at the top of the stem. White, funnel-shaped flowers (6-8 cm wide) with a yellow center emerge from red, cone-shaped bracts (4 cm long). The large, showy petals are actually modified stamens.
Fruit is red, woody capsule, 1.5 cm wide containing numerous black, glossy seeds (0.3 cm).
Flowering: Late summer/early fall,
Fruiting: Fall/winter.