Alpinia purpurata 'Jungle Queen' - Meet the Plants - National Tropical Botanical Garden Plant Database

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Alpinia purpurata 'Jungle Queen' - Bract with flowers

Bract with flowers (photo)

Taxonomy:

Alpinia purpurata "Jungle Queen" (Zingiberaceae)

Common Names:

English Names:

Pink Ginger

Hawaiian Name:
'Awapuhi 'Ula'Ula

Classification:

Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum.
Kingdom: Plantae-Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta-Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta-Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta-Flowering plants
Class: Liliopsida-Monocotyledons
Subclass: Zingiberidae
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Zingiberaceae - Ginger Family
Genus: Alpinia Roxb. - Alpinia
Species: Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum. - Red Ginger
(National Plant Database. 2004.)
(Wagner, Warren L., Darrel R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i.)

Description:

Pink ginger is large cultiver of the red ginger, Alpinia purpurata, from which it is derived, but the flower head is twice as large and it can grow up to 4m tall.

Flower bracts are a soft light pink with small white flowers emerging from within the bracts. (See also Alpinia purpurata)
(Aloha Tropicals Catalog. 2004.)

Geographic Distribution:

Alpinia purpurata is native to New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Solomon Islands, Bismarck Archipelago and Bougainville.

(Wagner, Warren L., Darrel R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i.)

Species Interconnections and Interdependencies:

The nectar of this flower is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds.
(

Wagner, Warren L., Darrel R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i.)

Indigenous Practices:

This very popular Ginger composed of layers of cerise bracts is used in the cut flower industry around the world. It will bloom at 1 m but can grow up to 3 m or more. The beautiful pink flower bract can last up to 3 weeks on the plant.

(Kepler, A. K. 1995. Maui's Floral Splendor.)

(Information for this species compiled and recorded by Camelia Cirnaru, NTBG Consultant.)

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