Cheilocostus speciosus
Cheilocostus speciosus
Cheilocostus speciosus is a plant from the family of Costaceae. It was traditionally associated with Costus speciosus as the genus Costus, but belongs to the newly described genus Cheilocostus 2006. It is one of several plant species, which are called Costus.
Description
Cheilocostus speciosus is a perennial, herbaceous plant. They form rhizomes as outlasting. The most basic semiwoody stems reach a stature height of 1 to 3 meters and branch out on top. The alternate and spirally arranged leaves are oblong- lanceolate simple, divided into leaf sheath, petiole and leaf blade. The petiole is 5 to 7 mm long. The leaf blade is 15-20 cm long and 6-10 cm wide.
The terminal inflorescences are about 5 to 15 cm in size and ovate. They contain several bright red, ovate bracts, which are about 2 inches tall, leathery, pubescent with a sharp, hard top, more bright - red, 1.2 to 1.5 cm large bracts and several flowers.
The hermaphrodite, zygomorphic flowers are triple. The three leathery, red sepals are fused at the base and about 1.8 to 2 cm tall with reddish black calyx lobes. The three petals are fused into a tube about 1 cm long with about 5 cm long Kronlappen, which end in a white or red top. Five of the stamens are fused to the so-called labellum; it is white, trumpet-shaped 6.5 to 9 cm in size, and serrated on the edge and curled, with overlapping seams. The only fertile stamen is 4.5 cm long, 1.3 cm wide, with a broad, kronblattförmigen stamen, the white at its base with orange - yellow and is hairy fluffy.
There is formed a spherical, capsule red fruit having a diameter of about 1.5 cm and is slightly woody. The black seeds are about 3 mm in size.
Occurrence
Cheilocostus speciosus is traditionally used as a medicinal plant in India and planted worldwide as an ornamental plant. In addition to the original occurrence in the Malay Peninsula, this species is found wild in front of various tropical regions. The preferred growth sites are forest clearings and damp hollows.
System
2006, the species was found to be one of four species of the genus Costus in a new genus Chamaecostus. :
Cheilocostus speciosus ( J.Koenig ) C.Specht has many synonyms: Costus speciosus ( J.Koenig ) Sm, Banksea speciosa J.Koenig, Costus lamingtonii FMBailey, Costus formosanus Nakai, Costus speciosus var formosanus ( Nakai ) SSYing.
Application
The rhizome of Cheilocostus speciosus and other species of the family Costaceae contains saponins ( esp. diosgenin glycosides) estrogen, anti-inflammatory and bile promoting. These properties are used in Indian folk medicine to treat various ailments such as cough, skin disorders and digestive problems.
Swell
- Delin Wu, Kai Larsen: Costaceae in the Flora of China, Volume 24, p 321: Costus speciosus - Online.