1056

 Alpinia vittata W.Bull

Synonym	:	Alpinia sanderae Sander
Family	`	Zingiberaceae
Local name	:	Eng.: Striped narrow leaf ginger, Variegated ginger.
Flowering and fruiting period	:	April-September
Distribution	:	Cultivated in Malesia and Malanesia.
Endemic/Exotic		Exotic
Uses	:	It has high ornamental value. The plant is widely cultivated for its handsome variegated foliage. Propagated by rhizome cuttings.
Key botanical characters: Rhizome 1-1.4 cm wide, creamy white externally and internally, slightly aromatic, hard. Leafy shoots 98-124 cm high, slanting. Leaves 19-22 in number, 8.5-10 cm apart; ligule 0.2-0.4 x 0.5-0.6 cm, single, ovate, light green turns to brown towards margin; lamina 11-27 x 2.4-4.5 cm, elliptic, dark green above, pale green below, white striped on either sides, aromatic. Inflorescence 4.4-5.5 cm long, erect, racemose, terminal. Bract 1.7-1.9 x 1.1-1.8 cm, ovate, creamy yellow, green variegated, cincinnus two-flowered. Flower 3.5-3.7 cm long, creamy white, straight, sessile, 1 or 3 opens at a time. Labellum 0.9-1 x 0.5-0.6 cm,  obovate, white, glabrous, tip irregularly lobed, thick at centre, thin towards margin, two ridges at centre, glabrous.