butterfly-ginger

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• butterfly-ginger
• butterfly-lily
• cinnamon-jasmine
• garland-flower
• garland-flowers
• ginger-lily
• white ginger-lily
• white-ginger
• Butterfly ginger lily
• White Ginger Lily
• White ginger
• white garland-lily

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hedychium flavescens var. chrysoleucum
• Gandasulium lingulatum
• Amomum filiforme
• Gandasulium coronarium
• Hedychium coronarium var. chrysoleucum
• Hedychium chrysoleucum
• Hedychium coronarium var. maximum
• Hedychium gandasulium
• Hedychium album
• Hedychium prophetae
• Hedychium maximum
• Hedychium lingulatum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Zingiberales and the family Zingiberaceae. Ultimately, its scientific identity is defined by its placement in the genus Hedychium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct oceanic and continental regions. Within the Macaronesian archipelago, it can be found inhabiting the Azores, the Canary Islands, and Madeira. Its range also extends to West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically occurring around the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Furthermore, the species has established a presence in the Southern African region, particularly within KwaZulu-Natal. These varied locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in multiple subtropical and tropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hedychium coronarium is characterized by a diverse range of habitats and significant altitudinal adaptability. It thrives in a wide variety of environments, including Anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), Várzea fields (Campo de Várzea), and the Cerrado (latu sensu) biome. It is frequently found within riparian or gallery forests (Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria), semi-deciduous seasonal forests (Floresta Estacional Semidecidual), and various types of ombrophilous forests, including both ombrophilous rain forests (Floresta Ombrófila/Pluvial) and mixed ombrophilous forests (Floresta Ombrófila Mista), as well as coastal restinga ecosystems. In terms of topography, the species exhibits a vast elevational range, extending from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 1800 m AMSL, with a mean elevational occurrence of approximately 1760 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1760 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campo de Várzea, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Floresta Ombrófila Mista, Restinga

Genetics

The genetics of Hedychium coronarium are characterized by a complex chromosomal profile and varying levels of polyploidy within its populations. Cytogenetic studies have identified a range of chromosome numbers, specifically documented as 18, 34, 51, 52, and 54, reflecting significant genomic diversity and evolutionary plasticity. Despite this wide spectrum of chromosomal counts, the fundamental ploidy level is identified as 2, suggesting that much of the observed variation may stem from complex chromosomal rearrangements or aneuploidy within the species' genetic framework.

Chromosome number :

18,34,51,52,54

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Hedychium coronarium is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a member of the cryptophyte group, it relies on protected underground structures to survive unfavorable environmental conditions. Specifically, its life form is classified as a geophyte, meaning it utilizes specialized underground storage organs, such as rhizomes, to facilitate its long-term survival and regeneration.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hedychium coronarium is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. As a terrestrial plant, it grows independently without acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting rather than being a liana, vine, or climber, maintaining its structure through its own herbaceous stems. In terms of stature, it reaches a plant height ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 3 meters, with an average height typically observed at approximately 1 meter.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hedychium coronarium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure features elongated leaves that typically range from a minimum length of 25 cm to a maximum of 60 cm, with widths varying between 4 cm and 11 cm. Unlike many desert-adapted species, this plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining a non-succulent leaf structure throughout its growth. Furthermore, it does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen availability rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

60 cm

Leaf length min:

25 cm

Leaf width max:

11 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hedychium coronarium is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers, which are white in color. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. The inflorescence is relatively compact, with a length ranging from a minimum of 0.07 m to a maximum of 0.2 m. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fruits that reach a maximum length of 3 cm and a maximum width of 1.5 cm. These fruits contain a vast number of seeds, with a count exceeding 1000 seeds per fruit. The individual seeds are quite small, featuring a maximum seed length of 4 mm and a maximum seed width of 2.5 mm. In terms of mass, the seeds are highly consistent, with a mean mass of 0.004345 g and a range spanning from 0.00389 g to 0.00389 g. The dispersal of these seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, specifically categorized as endozoochorous, meaning the seeds are dispersed via the internal passage through animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

white

Fruit length max:

3 cm

Fruit width max:

1.5 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.2 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.07 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length max:

4 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00389 g

Seed mass mean:

0.004345 g

Seed width max:

2.5 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Hedychium coronarium has 3 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, flower, leaf.

Rhizome

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of food science and technology
3. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer
4. Preparative biochemistry & biotechnology
5. Journal of dietary supplements

Flower

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Hedychium coronarium has 26 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Linalool, 1,8-Cineole, 1,8-Cineol, 10-epi-gamma-Eudesmol, 4-Methoxy Ethyl Cinnamate.

Linalool

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology
3. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Chemistry Central journal

1,8-Cineole

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Chemistry Central journal

1,8-Cineol

1. Natural product research

10-epi-gamma-Eudesmol

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

4-Methoxy Ethyl Cinnamate

1. Natural product research

Coronadiene

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Coronarin D

1. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)

Cubenol

1. Natural product research

EUDESMOL

1. Natural product research

Flavonoids

1. 3 Biotech

Activities

Hedychium coronarium has 8 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antifungal, Antihypertensive, Antimicrobial.

Antibacterial

1. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of dietary supplements

Antifungal

1. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)

Antihypertensive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Antiproliferative

1. Natural product research

Antitumor

1. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)

Diuretic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Hedychium coronarium has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Antidiabetic, diuretic effects, leishmaniasis, oxidative stress.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations