Hellenia speciosa (J.Koenig) S.R.Dutta

 

Family: Costaceae

Synonym: Costus speciosus (J.Koenig) Sm., Banksea speciosa J.Koenig

Vernacular name: Aanakoova, Channakoova, Malavayambu, Narumchanna, Nuchanna

Habit: Herb

Habitat: Moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, also in the plains

Distribution: Indo-Malesia

Flowering and Fruiting: July-October

Key identification features: Rhizome tuberous, highly branched, with oblong leaves, sparsely hairy lower surface, and terminal spikes bearing white flowers. Capsule bright red, dehiscing loculicidally, with black seeds.

Uses: Tender shoots are eaten as vegetable. Rhizome juice is used as medicine for treatment of Jaundice. The stem which is rich in water can be used as a source of water.

Costus pictus D.Don

 

Family: Costaceae

Synonym: Costus congestus Rowlee , Costus mexicanus Liebm.

Vernacular name: Painted Spiral Ginger

Habit: Herb

Habitat: Tropical areas, Parks & Gardens

Distribution: Cultivated elsewhere

Flowering and Fruiting: February-April

Key identification features: A perennial herb with spiraling stems, marked bases of sheaths, and tubular yellow flowers with red spots and stripes. The fruit is a capsule, approximately round and may be hairless to densely hairy.

Uses: It is aphrodisiac and able to prevent the hair turning grey. Its root is anodyne, antibacterial, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, carminative, stomachic, tonic and vermifuge.