1104

 Hedychium forrestii var. palaniense Sanoj & M. Sabu

Synonym	:	Hedychium dekianum
Family	:	Zingiberaceae
Flowering and fruiting period	:	July–October.
Distribution	:	India (Western Ghats)
Endemic/exotic		Endemic to Tamil Nadu
Uses	:	Ornamental
Key botanical characters: Rhizome 2.7–3 cm wide, creamy yellow internally, slightly aromatic. Leafy shoot 108–110 cm high, erect, robust. Leaves sessile; lamina 38.8–43 x 8.5–7.7 cm, elliptic, dark green and glabrous above, pale green and puberulent below, hairyness increases towards tip; margin undulate, membranous. Inflorescence 16.5–23.2 cm long, cylindrical, lax, erect. Bracts 4.5–4.7 x 1.8–2 cm, lanceolate, green, glabrous, pubescent towards tip, coriaceous, non-imbricate, convolute; cincinnus c. 3-flowered. Flower 15–15.2 cm long, white, 4–6 -flowers open at a time, ascending, slightly fragrant.