Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm.

Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm., Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 31(2): 204 (1972).

Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm., Photo by Nguyen Hoang Tuan

The native range of this species is S. Japan to Taiwan, S. China to N. Peninsula Malaysia. It is a rhizomatous geophyte and grows primarily in the subtropical biome. It is has environmental uses, as a medicine and for food.

Vietnamese name: 

Riềng ấm, Gừng ấm, Thảo đậu khấu, Riềng đẹp

Scientific name: 

Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) Burtt et Smith – Costus zerumbet Pers.

Family: 

Zingiberaceae

Uses: 

Cure stomach pain, abdominal distension; low phlegm accumulation; Abnormal digestion, vomiting, diarrhea (rhizomes, seeds). Flowers and leaves are used to treat colon gas.

Distribution: 

The tree grows naturally along streams, under the forest canopy, quite common in Vietnam.