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Native Ginger

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Alpinia caerulea


Plant Number: 33

Common Name: Native Ginger

Scientific Name: Alpinia caerulea 

Derivation of name

Alpinia named for Prospero Alpini, a 17th-century Italian botanist.

caerulea  Latin meaning 'blue' in reference to the colour of the fruit 

Description

  • Clumping, multi-stemmed edible, perennial herb to 3 m

  • Dense, evergreen foliage, alternate leaves to 40 cm

  • White flowers to 10 mm

  • Blue fruit to 10 mm

Human uses

Indigenous Australians ate the stem, roots and fruit pulp, so much so that indigenous paths through some forests could be detected by the trail of left over seeds.  Leaves were used for flavouring and to cook in.

Acknowledgment: Mangroves to Mountains, Gardening with Angus, Wild Food Plants of Australia, Bush Heritage

Photo Credit: Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney

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Last reviewed 27 May 2020
Last updated 27 May 2020