Cassumunar Ginger

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cassumunar Ginger

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cassumunar roxburghii
• Amomum cassumunar
• Zingiber purpureum var. palamauense
• Zingiber luridum
• Zingiber pubisquama
• Zingiber paucipunctatum
• Zingiber cliffordiae
• Zingiber cassumunar
• Zingiber cassumunar var. palamauense
• Zingiber cassumunar var. subglabrum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Zingiberales, it is classified under the family Zingiberaceae and the genus Zingiber. Together, these taxonomic levels define its biological identity as the species Zingiber purpureum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range centered primarily within the Indian Subcontinent. It can be found growing across various regions of India, including the mountainous terrain of the East Himalaya. Its distribution extends into the state of Assam and throughout the nation of Bangladesh. Additionally, the species is recorded in the Southeast region of China. Together, these locations define the natural habitat where this medicinal plant thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Zingiber purpureum is characterized by its existence as a geophyte, a life form where the plant survives unfavorable seasons through underground storage organs. As a perennial herb, it maintains its biological continuity by retreating into specialized rhizomes located beneath the soil surface during periods of dormancy or environmental stress. This underground structure serves as a nutrient reservoir, allowing the plant to re-emerge and initiate new vegetative growth once favorable conditions return. The lifecycle involves a cyclical pattern of seasonal above-ground foliage development followed by a period of quiescence, where the essential living tissue remains protected within the subterranean geophytic system.

Life form :

geophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Zingiber purpureum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, lacking any significant woody tissue. This plant functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, as it maintains a strictly terrestrial existence. In terms of its structural habit, it is a self-supporting species that does not exhibit climbing behavior, such as being a vine or a liana, nor does it require external support to maintain its posture. Furthermore, it is not an aquatic or semiaquatic plant, as its physiological requirements are centered on terrestrial habitats.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Zingiber purpureum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome.

Rhizome

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer
3. British journal of cancer
4. Journal of economic entomology
5. Chemistry & biodiversity

Chemicals

Zingiber purpureum has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (-)-Terpinen-4-ol, SABINENE, Terpinen-4-ol, Volatile oil.

(-)-Terpinen-4-ol

1. Plant diversity

SABINENE

1. Journal of economic entomology

Terpinen-4-ol

1. Journal of economic entomology

Volatile oil

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology

Activities

Zingiber purpureum has 3 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Repellent, Antihistamine, Insecticide.

Repellent

1. Plant diversity
2. Journal of economic entomology

Antihistamine

1. Planta medica

Insecticide

1. Plant diversity

Medicinal Uses

Zingiber purpureum has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include dementia, depression.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations