Vol. 11, No. 2 June, 2006
The Gingers of Sarawak II - The MediumSized Species By Peter Boyce, Contributor
The HSPR Newsletter
HELICONIA SOCIETY OF PUERTO RICO, INC.
The medium-sized gingers account for by far the largest number of genera and species in Sarawak, with the horticulturally popular genera Zingiber and Alpinia pre-eminent. However, it is the horticulturally much less familiar genus Amomum that provides the largest number of species and, indeed, diversity in Sarawak. Amomum species occur in a wide range of growth forms, from dense clumps of slender culms less than 50 cm tall to large, stilt-rooted plants towering over the surrounding vegetation. There is currently no accurate figure of the number of species of Amomum in Sarawak although fieldwork observations suggest that the number is in excess of 50; many species appear to be highly localized and occasionally similar but clearly discernible taxa are to be found in restricted association with differing geologies, forest types, etc. The most striking aspect of Amomum is the diversity in form of the inflorescences - the flower spikes – and the infructescences – the fruit heads. While some species have slender spikes of flowers encased in chaffy bracts with the actual flowers rather inconspicuous, as in Amomum dimorphum (Plate 1a) others produce few-flowered groups of larger-flowered inflorescences near to the ground, as in several yet to be identified species (Plate 1b), while yet others have erect dense cone-like or flattopped heads of pale green bracts from which emerge large, brightly coloured flowers. An example of this last type is an as yet unidentified species from central Sarawak (Plate 1c). Many of these coneinflorescenced species produce thick mucilage that coats the entire flowering head Plate 1a. Amomum dimor- and, as in Plagiophum.
Inside this issue:
stachys (see Part I of this series), may aid in preventing nonpollinating insects robbing the flowers of pollen.
Plate 1b. Unidentified Amomum sp.
The infructescences of Amomum are equally diverse, ranging from spikes of loosely arranged cherry or olive-shaped fruits such as A. anomalum (Plate 1d) to dense heads of intricately shaped interlocking fruits that resemble an Aztec sculpture, as in A. dictyocoleum (Plate 2a). This wide range of reproductive morphologies has led botanists to speculate that a rigorous revision of Amomum may well result in the recognition of several segregate genera. Flowering at the tip of long, leafy shoots, Alpinia in Sarawak divides into several distinct groups separated on the size and structure of the flowers and the presence or absence of large inflorescence bracts. PerPlate 1c. Unidentified Amomum haps the most sp.
Dates to Remember
The Gingers of Sarawak II - The Medium-Sized Species
1
About the Author
4
Classified Ads
4
President’s Corner
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• HSPR Meeting, 10:00 am, Saturday, June 10, 2006. Dr. Arturo Morales Carrion Theater, Metropolitan University, Hwy. 176, Km. 0.3, Cupey, PR. • Heliconia Society International Conference, June 24-July 1, 2006. Darwin, Australia.
The Gingers of Sarawak II - The Medium-Sized Species (continued) familiar species is A. galanga, (Plate 2b), with its distinctive lemon and ginger smelling rhizome that is much utilized as an aromatic, lengkuas or galangal, in local food. Although widespread, A. galanga is dubiously native in Sarawak, however, there are several similar and closely related native species, such as A. aquatica (Plate 2c), all with similarly inconspicuous flowers.
Plate 1d (left). Olive-shaped fruits of Amomum anomalum; Plate 2a (right). Sculptured infructescence of Amomum dictyocoleum.
Among the most striking and beautiful species of Alpinia are those with nodding inflorescences enclosed in large, stiff, parchment-like bracts that conceal large, waxy, orchid-like flowers. One of the most striking, as yet not identified with certainty, has waxy yellow and cream flowers concealed by pale brown bracts. It originates from the remote Hose Mountains of central Sarawak (Plate 2d). A third group of Alpinia involves plants with large, conspicuous flowers carried on erect racemes and not concealed by large bracts. This group, section Catimbium, include some of the most spectacular gingers Plate 2b. Alpinia galanga. in Sarawak. Particularly notable are the highly variable A. glabra (Plate 3a) and the elegant A. hansenii (Plate 3b). The last named occurs along the banks of forest streams and the whole plant, with its narrow leaves, slender culms, and rhizome deeply rooted into the clay, appears to be specifically adapted to this periodically floodbuffeted habitat. Such plants, adapted to the flood zone of forest streams, are termed rheophytes. Bornean Zingiber are very diverse, with a considerable number of species described in recent years and undoubtedly more awaiting formal recognition. As with Amomum there is quite some variation in the appearance of the inflorescences, although it seems probable that, based on the flower morphology, Zingiber is a single genus and not an unnatural assemblage of several evolutionary lineages. In Part I of this series we looked Plate 2d. Unidentified Alpinia sp. briefly at two types of Page 2
Plate 3a (left). Alpinia glabra; Plate 3b (right). Alpinia hansenii.
Zingiber inflorescences: the erect, heavily spreading-bracted types such as Z. pachysiphon and the trailing inflorescences of Z. incomptum and allies. The species with trailing inflorescences tend to be large growing, although there are exceptions as in Z. acuminatum var. borneense (Plate 3c) with inflorescences of incurved matte-red bracts resembling gigantic raspberries and sporting short-lived nocturnal white flowers. The majority of Zingiber in Sarawak have erect candle-like inflorescences with closely-overlapping bracts and white or pale yellow diurnal or nocturnal flowers. Most commonly encountered in the sandy kerangas (tropical heath forest) of western Sarawak is Z. griffithii (Plate 3d) with pale red to pink bracts carried below rather rubbery pale green leaves. The Z. griffithii group contains a number of rather similar species and care has to be taken to differentiate between them. Two rather distinct species in the group are Z. martinii with jade green bracts and white diurnal flowers (Plate 4a) and the pewter-leaved Z. argenteum (Plate 4b). The griffithii group are distinctive in fruit, with the still coloured inflorescence bracts parting to allow the fruits to split into three valves to reveal glossy black seeds with an oily or fatty structure (elaiosome) attached to one end (Plate 4c). It appears that this structure serves as an attractant for large solitary foraging ants who carry the seed away, devour the elaiosome, and discard the seed.
Plate 3c (left). Raspberry shaped inflorescence of Zingiber acuminatum var. borneense; Plate 3d (right). Candle-like inflorescence of Zingiber griffithii. T H E H S P R N EW S L E T T E R
The Gingers of Sarawak II - The Medium-Sized Species (continued) In the kampungs (villages) a number of introduced (nonnative) Zingiber are grown as flavouring and for medicinal purposes. The three most commonly encountered are the common ginger, Z. officinale – halia kering in Plate 4a (left). Inflorescence of Zingiber mar- the local Malay (Plate tinii; Plate 4b (right). Pewter-leaved Zingiber 4d), which probably argenteum. originally came from southern China although its exact origin is lost in the mists of time; the Javan Z. ottensii (Plate 5a) which is valued considerably as a herb for use after childbirth, and Z. montanum (syn. Z. cassumunar), locally called bongklai, and probably originally from northwest India (Plate 5b), and is also used tradionally for after childbirth, as well as a flavouring. All of these species are notable for the spotted flowers (nocturnal and foul-smelling in Z. montanum; diurnal and odourless in the other two); no indigenous Zingiber in Sarawak has spotted flowers. One of the more commonly encountered genera in Sarawak is Hornstedtia. Many are large growing although exceptions include the western Sarawak limestone-associated H. havilandii (Plate 5c), with slender green and dull red candles arising in large numbers and topped with Plate 4c. Infructescence showing seeds waxy red flowers. From with attached elaiosome. sandstones, Hornstedtia conica is similar although readily distinguished by the ‘candles’ held close to ground level and the flowers opening pale pink (Plate 5d). Hornstedtia leonurus (Plate 6a) appears to be limestone restricted, in this instance to the limestones of central Sarawak, and has remarkable plum-purple gaping flowers Other medium-sized genera in Sarawak are represented by only a few species each and include Elettaria, Geocharis and Hedychium.
Plate 4d (left). Common ginger, Zingiber officinale; Plate 5a (center). Zingiber ottensii; Plate 5b (right). Zingiber montanum.
Elettaria is distinctive for the slender culms leafy only in the terminal third and the very slender, wiry, trailing inflorescences extending to several metres and carrying erect, white flowers. Seeing the often large flowers emerging seemingly Plate 5c (left). Hornstedtia havilandii; Plate 5d from bare leaf litter(right). Hornstedtia conica. covered jungle floors is one of the magical moments of fieldwork. The species illustrated (Plate 6b) is from central Sarawak has yet to be identified to species with certainty. Geocharis is one of the rarer ginger genera in Borneo and perhaps one of the most noteworthy. Geocharis rubra (Plate 6c) is especially striking in fruit with the angled, glossy rich scarlet fruits Plate 6a. Hornstedtia leonurus. hanging like Chinese temple lanterns in the swampy, gloomy limestone cliff-base forest that species favours.
Plate 6b (left). Unidentified Elettaria sp.; Plate 6c (center). Geocharis rubra; Plate 6d (right). Hedychium borneense.
Hedychium is a genus much more associated with mainland tropical Asia, especially the subtropical Himalaya. Nonetheless there are a few native Sarawakian species, of which H. borneense (Plate 6d) is one of the more commonly encountered in the mountainous parts of central Sarawak, although it’s small, yellow, night flowering flowers emerging from dull pink bracts are a far cry for the large, orchid-flowered species that horticulturists are familiar with. Far showier is the introduced H. coronarium, with powerfully sweet-fragrant white flowers (Plate 6e). It is much favoured in kampungs as an ornamental and is also frequently seen in Chinese cemeteries. Plate 6e. Hedychium coronarium.
VOL. 11, NO. 2
Page 3
HELICONIA SOCIETY OF PUERTO RICO, INC.
President: Dr. Raymond Jerome Past President: Mrs. Emilia (Sherry) Ballester Vice President: Dr. Sergio Tejedor Treasurer: Ms. Yolanda Reyes Secretary: Mrs. Enilda Cabrera Officer: Mrs. Amelia Villanueva Officer: Dr. José Abreu Officer: Mr. Héctor Méndez Editor/Webmaster: Dr. Bryan Brunner Assistant Editor: Mr. Bob Castro
HSPR Promoting Zingiberales in Puerto Rico since 1996.
The Heliconia Society of Puerto Rico, Inc. was founded in 1996. The objectives of the society are to stimulate and promote the enjoyment and understanding of Heliconia and related plants of the order Zingiberales through
P.O. Box 3295 Carolina, Puerto Rico 00984-3295 Phone: 787-886-3147 Fax: 1-240-238-7366 Email:
[email protected]
education, research and communication, and to interact with the Heliconia Society International and other institutions which share similar interests, purposes or objectives.
About the Author
President’s Corner
A plant fanatic since he was old enough to sow a seed, after 8 years in commercial woody plant horticulture, 15 years at Kew Gardens specializing in tropical Asian botany and 2 years as a freelance consultant and nurseryman in France, Peter Boyce now lives in Malaysia where he combines his passions of botany, horticulture and tropical Asia managing a project which sustainably produces for sale plants of Malaysian species threatened by illegal commercial exploitation.
We all wish to express our deep appreciation to Paul and Beverly Yoshioka for their kindness and generosity in holding our last meeting at their home. We all had a great time. We also wish to express our deepest condolences and sincerest love to Paul and Beverly, and to all of their family members, for the recent loss of Paul’s mother. She was a great and kind lady in every respect and will long be remembered for her kindness and friendly smile.
He may be contacted at the following address: Peter Boyce Senior Botanist Malesiana Tropicals Suite 9-04, Tun Jugah Tower No. 18, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman 93100 Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia
[email protected] www.malesiana.com
Ray Jerome — Magnificent documentary DVDs, approximately 1 hour each, $10 plus $5 S/H. “Heliconias #1: Pendant and Bihai Heliconias”, and “Heliconias #2: Orthotricha and Stricta Heliconias”. Call Ray at 787-886-3147. Montoso Gardens — Large selection of heliconias, gingers, ornamental bananas and other Zingiberales. Visit our farm in Maricao (787-221-0614), or visit our website at www.montosogardens.com. Heliconia Seeds For Sale. $5 per packet. 50+ varieties. Contact Sherry Ballester at 787-827-3121. See list of available seeds at www.viveroanones.com.
I highly encourage all members of our society to attend our next scheduled quarterly meeting on Saturday, June 10th. This will be the second conference in our “Meet the World Experts” guest lecture series that is sponsored by HSPR. Our guest lecturers will be Carla Black and her husband, Angel Rodriguez. Carla and Angel are world recognized for their explorations of the jungles of Panama and Costa Rica and are responsible for the rediscovery of Heliconia bella, which was thought to be extinct, for finding many new species and hybrids of heliconias, and for locating the growing habitats of most heliconia species native to Panama and Costa Rica. They will present a one hour slide show/lecture presentation entitled “Heliconias of Panama and Costa Rica”. I have previously heard part of this presentation and both the slides and the descriptions of their “findings” are both beautiful and exciting. It is a presentation that you will long remember. Admission is free and open to the general public. Members of HSPR are invited to a reception for Carla and Angel following the lecture in an adjacent room to the theater at the Metropolitan University. There will also be displays and sales of a great variety of heliconia and ginger plants and rhizomes in the lobby of the theater. Best regards, always, Ray Jerome
