small shell ginger

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• small shell ginger

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Catimbium muticum
• Renealmia mutica
• Alpinia mutica var. laxiflora
• Languas mutica
• Languas laxiflora
• Languas korthalsii
• Alpinia laxiflora
• Alpinia korthalsii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls into the order Zingiberales and the family Zingiberaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Alpinia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key tropical regions in Asia. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in India. Its presence extends into Indo-China, where it inhabits Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Additionally, the species is located within the Malesia region, specifically on the island of Borneo. Collectively, these locations highlight the diverse habitats where the species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Alpinia mutica is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, ensuring its continued existence through multiple growing seasons. As a plant that survives unfavorable periods through underground structures, it is classified as a geophyte, relying on specialized organs such as rhizomes to persist. Furthermore, its biological classification identifies it as a cryptophyte, meaning its regenerative buds are protected below the soil surface during dormant phases, allowing it to emerge reliably when environmental conditions become favorable for growth.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Alpinia mutica is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This plant reaches an average height of approximately 1.5 m and maintains a self-supporting structure, functioning neither as a liana nor a vine. It is a terrestrial species, meaning it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies, growing independently rather than as a parasite or through any hemi-epiphytic life cycle.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Alpinia mutica is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutritional processes. This plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells, a common trait among many ginger species that thrive in shaded or understory environments. Regarding its nutrient acquisition, Alpinia mutica is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into organic forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium available in the soil substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Alpinia mutica has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 5,6-Dehydrokawain, Flavokawin B, Pinocembrin, Pinostrobin.

5,6-Dehydrokawain

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Flavokawin B

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Pinocembrin

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Pinostrobin

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Activities

Alpinia mutica has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial.

Antimicrobial

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences