1067

 Costus woodsonii Maas 

Synonym	:	Alpinia spiralis Jacq.
Family	`	Costaceae
Flowering and fruiting period	:	Throughout the year
Distribution	:	Native to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and Colombia in South America.
Endemic/Exotic	:	Exotic
Uses	:	Ornamental
Key botanical characters: Terrestrial, perennial rhizomatous herb, 2–3 m high. Leaves alternate, more spiral phyllotaxy, petiolate; petiole 0.3–0.5cm long, green, glabrous; lamina 7.5–17 × 3.6–6 cm, ovate or obovate base cordate, margin entire, non-ciliated, apex attenuate, green, abaxial and adaxial surfaces glabrous.Inflorescence terminal, peduncle short,1–2cm long; spike 12–16 × 3–4 cm, young conical, ovate, globose at maturity, elongate, one flower opened at a time, red. Bract numerous, closely arranged, scarious, smooth and shiny, c. 2.5 × c. 2.5 cm, ovate or obovate, red; Flower orange-red in colour.