1353.000 Alpinia Roxb.

Herbs with creeping thick rhizomes; pseudostems numerous, well developed, rarely absent. Leaves many, lamina oblong or lanceolate. Inflorescence a terminal panicle, raceme or spike, dense or lax, covered by 1-3 spathulate involucral bracts when immature; bracts, when present, opening at base, rarely hooded, each subtending 1 flower or a cincinnus of 2-many flowers; bracteoles open at base, sometimes absent; calyx usually tubular, sometimes split on 1 side; corolla central lobe hooded, usually wider than lateral lobes. Fruit a capsule, usually globose, dry or fleshy, indehiscent or irregularly dehiscent. Seeds numerous, often angled, arillate.

Worldwide: Species 230; in tropical and sub-tropical Asia, Australia and Pacific islands.

Zimbabwe: 3 cultivated taxa.