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Zingiber zerumbet

(L.) Roscoe ex Sm. (1806)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Zingiberales Family: Zingiberaceae Genus: Zingiber

‘awapuhi [awapuhi], ‘awapuhi kuahiwi [awapuhi kuahiwi], ‘ōpuhi [opuhi], shampoo ginger, wild ginger

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Deciduous herbs with numerous leafy shoots 0.75–2 m tall.

Stems: Rhizomes creeping, robust, fleshy, aromatic.

Roots: Fibrous root system.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate, distichous. Blades lanceolate, 14–40 cm long, 3–8.5 cm wide. Apex acuminate. Base attenuate. Surfaces pubescent on upper surfaces along midrib and on lower surface. Margins entire. Lateral veins parallel, diverging from prominent midrib. Petioles 4–5 mm long, pubescent; ligules membranous, 1.5–4 cm long, entire, pubescent or glabrate; sheaths reddish, 3–6.5 cm long, pubescent. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in spikes variable, ovoid, obovoid, globose, ellipsoid, rhomboid, cylindrical, or somewhat fusiform, 3.5–10.5 cm long, 1.75–5.5 cm wide, peduncles 9–50 cm long, bracts green when young, becoming pale and finally red, closely imbricate, ovate, obovoid–rhomboid, or broadly elliptic, 1.5–4 cm long, t.25–4 cm wide, glabrate to pubescent, margins membranous, apex not incurved. Flowers bisexual (perfect), zygomorphic, pedicellate; Floral tube funnelform. Calyx 3-lobed, the lobes unequal; 13–17 mm long. Corolla adnate with the stamens into a floral tube, distally 3-lobed; corolla whitish to pale to dark yellow, the tube 2–3 cm long, the lobes 1.5–2.5 cm long. Stamens 5, in 2 whorls, only the posterior one of the inner whorl fertile, the other 2 members of inner whorl connate to form a highly variable, often conspicuous labellum; labellum orange to yellow, ovate, orbicular, or suborbicular, 1.2–2 cm long, 1.5–2cm wide, apex emarginate; anther pale yellow, 8–10 mm long. Ovary inferior, with 2 variously developed apical nectary glands, 3-celled, sometimes incompletely so, rarely 1-celled, placentation axile, parietal (or essentially basal), or rarely free-central; ovules usually numerous; style filiform, often enveloped in a groove of the fertile stamen and embraced by the thecae; stigma various, often papillose and protruding beyond anther.

Fruit: Capsules red obovoid; ca. 12 mm long and 8 mm wide. Seeds black; with a lacerate; white aril.

Ploidy: 2n = 22

Habitat: Naturalized and sometimes dominant in disturbed; mesic; shaded areas.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Accepted Subtaxa (in Hawai'i) (1)

Zingiber zerumbet subsp. zerumbet

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Sometimes used on kuahu (hula altars) (Pukui 1942). Fragrant, sudsy fluid squeezed out of plant for use as shampoo, the powdered rhizome for scenting kapa, and leaves used to flavor meat (Wagner et al. 1990:1624).

  • ‘Awapuhi is used as a compress to apply to sore spots, bruises and cuts; also for headaches, toothache, ringworm/other skin disease, achy joints/sprains, stomach-ache (it is said to have anti-inflammatory properties). Ashes from burnt leaves, combined with a mixture of ashes of ‘ohe lau li‘i (small-leaved bamboo, Schizostachyum glaucifolium) and kukui nut sap (Aleurites moluccana), and ‘awapuhi tuber sap, provided a remedy for cuts and bruised skin. Underground stems were mashed with salt and rubbed on the head to treat headaches (Abbott 1992:102; Chun 1994:61–64).

CULTURE

  • ‘Awapuhi lau pala wale. Ginger leaves yellow quickly. Said of a weakling who withers easily, or of anything that passes too soon.

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Exot. Bot. 2: 105 (1806)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1623 (K, O, Mo, L, M); Oppenheimer 2003:26 (H); Staples & Herbst 2005:768 (KEY), 769 (DESCR); Munro 932 BISH (L†, 1929)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Zingiber zerumbet S Hilo District, along UH-Hilo mountain bike trail Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 80103 Hawaii BISH 2001-08-01
2 Zingiber zerumbet Old Pali Rd., Lester Marks' home Preserved_Specimen Leaves green with white streaks at base and along edges. Flw head crimson, 3.5 x 2 in., cone-shaped, full of transparent, thick juice; peduncle 7 in. long, dull-red, w/green and red bracts. Flws white, protruding little. Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1954-09-09
3 Zingiber zerumbet Kaluanui Gulch Preserved_Specimen Garber, D.W. 475 Oahu BISH 1920-07-04
4 Zingiber zerumbet Kawaiakaahu Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 932 Lanai BISH 1929-10-15
5 Zingiber zerumbet Lyon Arboretum Preserved_Specimen Plant to ca. 3 ft.; inflorescence arising on a seperate shoot; bracts green, lower ones with some red streaks; petals white; staminodes cream yellow. Kirchoff, B.K. 88149 Oahu BISH 1991-06-20
6 Zingiber zerumbet Pauoa Flats Preserved_Specimen Russell, P. 105 Oahu BISH 1932-07-20
7 Zingiber zerumbet Waimanu Trail, Waimanu Valley Preserved_Specimen Sohmer, S.H. 6102 Oahu BISH 1969-09-13
8 Zingiber zerumbet ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District. Growing near the Experimental Tree Planting Area Preserved_Specimen Kubo, R. 36 Hawaii BISH 1979-05-10
9 Zingiber zerumbet ahupuaa of Halepuaa Forest Resrve in the Puna District. Growing near the Experimental Tree Planting Area Preserved_Specimen Kubo, R. 36 Hawaii BISH 1979-05-10
10 Zingiber zerumbet ahupuaa of Halepuaa Forest Resrve in the Puna District Preserved_Specimen ESP Field Crew Hawaii BISH 1979-08-15
11 Zingiber zerumbet Manoa Valley Preserved_Specimen Lyon, H.L. Oahu BISH 1908-07-26
12 Zingiber zerumbet Hills above Pauoa Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. Oahu BISH 1864-01-01
13 Zingiber zerumbet Waimanu Trail, Waimanu Valley Preserved_Specimen Sohmer, S.H. 6103 Oahu BISH 1969-09-13
14 Zingiber zerumbet ahupuaa of Halepuaa Forest Resrve in the Puna District Preserved_Specimen ESP Field Crew Hawaii BISH 1979-08-15
15 Zingiber zerumbet Kipapa Trail, hunter trail in drainage on N side wet lowland forest; Metrosideros, Acacia, Dicranopteris, Cibotium, Psidium cattleianum, Ardisia elliptica Preserved_Specimen herbaceous; vegetative parts mild spicy odor, incipient florescence Reynolds, L.S. 166 Oahu BISH 2006-06-22
16 Zingiber zerumbet East Maui, Waihoi Valley, Transect one at base of N wall of Waihoi Valley Single stand in patch of Paspalum conjugatum. Preserved_Specimen Harrison, B. 160 Maui BISH 1972-08-04
17 Zingiber zerumbet Waimea Arboretum & Botanical Garden, Haleiwa cultivated Preserved_Specimen Variegated form. Orr, D. 26 Oahu BISH 1994-12-16
18 Zingiber zerumbet East Maui, Palikea stream, Haleakala National Park, Kipahulu Valley, 1/8 mi up stream where Palikea and Pipiwai stream meet Vegetation: Primarily exotic consisting of Microsorium, Mangifera and Psidium guajava. Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 5783 Maui BISH 1977-04-29
19 Zingiber zerumbet Waimalu, Ewa District Hibiscus forest. Preserved_Specimen Grant, M.L. 7347 Oahu BISH 1934-09-09
20 Zingiber zerumbet Laaukahi, Koloa In staghorn thicket. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 13444 Kauai BISH 1933-12-22
21 Zingiber zerumbet Pahole Gulch, Waialua District, Waianae Mts Floor of gulch not far from entrance. Growing with ferns and Oplismenus. Canopy of Aleurites. Preserved_Specimen Nagata, K.M. 1800 Oahu BISH 1978-10-05
22 Zingiber zerumbet Kaluanui Stream valley below Sacred Falls. E slope of Koolau Range, 1.6 mi S, 2.1 mi SSW of Hauula Deeply entrenched 1200 ft. gorge in volcanic rock. Disturbed wet woods (Eugenia malaccensis, Aleurites moluccana, Zingiber zerumbet, Cyrtandra stupantha, many ferns) talus slopes near bottom of gorge. Preserved_Specimen Flowers yellowish-white. Bracts filled with clear slime. Iltis, H.H. 361 Oahu BISH 1967-07-27
23 Zingiber zerumbet Halawa Valley Floor of valley. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 12766 Molokai BISH 1932-12-27
24 Zingiber zerumbet N coast, East Molokai, Wailau Valley Wet lower forest. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 9642 Molokai BISH 1933-07-03
25 Zingiber zerumbet Haleiwa Trail, Koolau Range. N Halawa-S Halawa Ridge In Acacia woods. Preserved_Specimen Leaves weak, stem fiber strong, pliant center pithy. St.John, H. 24875 Oahu BISH 1952-12-14
26 Zingiber zerumbet Kipapa Gulch, main stream bed Stream bed. Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 662 Oahu BISH 1932-07-01
27 Zingiber zerumbet Waimea Arboretum & Botanical Garden, Haleiwa cultivated Preserved_Specimen Variegated form. Orr, D. 26 Oahu BISH 1994-12-16
28 Zingiber zerumbet Kona District: Koolau Mts., Honolulu Forest Reserve, N of Honolulu. Waahila (St. Louis Heights) Trail, running NE along Waahila Ridge from Waahila State Park Wet forest. Preserved_Specimen Flowers white. Lammers, T.G. 5353 Oahu BISH 1983-08-28
29 Zingiber zerumbet On Hauula mountain range, along jeep trail leading to mountain foot trail; at the first gulch In hau-mountain apple community. Preserved_Specimen In flower. Herat, T. 196 Oahu BISH 1972-08-19
30 Zingiber zerumbet 3.2 mi NW of Wailua Experiment Station, Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve Forming understory in Aleurites-Hibiscus tiliaceus forest, also associated with Nephrolepis, Oplismenus. Preserved_Specimen Herb to 2 ft. Ishikawa, S. 275 Kauai BISH 1973-08-20
31 Zingiber zerumbet On Hauula mountain range, along jeep trail leading to the mountain foot trail In kukui, Pandanus and koa mixed community. Preserved_Specimen Plant about 3 ft. tall. Herat, T. 127 Oahu BISH 1972-08-12
32 Zingiber zerumbet Mt. Tantalus Woods. Preserved_Specimen Fruit rose-colored. St.John, H. 9883 Oahu BISH 1929-09-26
33 Zingiber zerumbet Hanakapiai, Hoalulu Stream In moist woods by stream. Preserved_Specimen Clumps. St.John, H. 13868 Kauai BISH 1933-12-30
34 Zingiber zerumbet Western slope of Manuahi Ridge, SE of Keawanui (N Molokai) Secondary forest of Psidium guajava and Schinus, with scattered Pandanus tectorius, Metrosideros and Aleurites, ground cover of Kalanchoe pinnata and Zingiber zerumbet. Preserved_Specimen Perennial rhizomatous herb, aromatic. Infl erect, bracts reddish green, filled with clear fluid, perianth cream, stamens pale yellow. Lorence, D.H. 5429 Molokai BISH 1987-08-01
35 Zingiber zerumbet Halawa, at base of Maoula Falls In woods. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 12733 Molokai BISH 1933-12-27
36 Zingiber zerumbet Manoa Falls trail, Manoa Valley Volcanic soil. Preserved_Specimen Stemmermann, R.L. 440 Oahu BISH 1973-09-17
37 Zingiber zerumbet Kawaiiki Ditch Trail, Koolau Range Alongside stream. Preserved_Specimen Nakata, S. 34 Oahu BISH 1945-11-11
38 Zingiber zerumbet Waimea Arboretum & Botanical Garden, Haleiwa cultivated Preserved_Specimen Variegated form. Orr, D. 26 Oahu BISH 1994-12-16
39 Zingiber zerumbet Along gravel road near coast 2 mi N of State Route 132 Preserved_Specimen Herb; leafy stems 0.6 m tall; inflorescences arising from the rhizome; corollas white. Miller, J.S. 7957 Hawaii BISH 1992-08-07
40 Zingiber zerumbet Lyon Arboretum Preserved_Specimen Plant to ca. 3 ft.; inflorescence arising on a seperate shoot; bracts green, lower ones with some red streaks; petals white; staminodes cream yellow. Kirchoff, B.K. 88149 Oahu BISH 1991-06-20
41 Zingiber zerumbet Kaimuki Preserved_Specimen Leaves to 1 m in height. Infl becoming yellowish w/red margin, to completely red in age; to 7 cm x 2 cm. Bracteole red at apex. Nagata, K.M. 4276 Oahu BISH 1993-12-01
42 Zingiber zerumbet Koolauloa, Hauula, HI, USA HUMAN_OBSERVATION 1441951053 Hawaii HAPI 1/2/1998
43 Zingiber zerumbet Waimanalo Trail, Koolau Range Wet, dark forest. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 10027 Oahu BISH 1935-10-06
44 Zingiber zerumbet Waimea Arboretum & Botanical Garden, Haleiwa Preserved_Specimen Variegated form. Orr, D. 27 Oahu BISH 1994-12-16
45 Zingiber zerumbet East Maui, Waihoi Valley, Transect one at base of N wall Single stand in patch of Paspalum conjugatum. Preserved_Specimen Harrison, B. 160 Maui BISH 1972-08-04
46 Zingiber zerumbet East Maui, 10 ft. off Hana Hwy, 1 mi E of Kailua Forming understory under shade of Melaleuca, Eucalyptus, Psidium. Assoc. w/Nephrolepis and Dicranopteris. Preserved_Specimen Herb to 4 ft. Infl on peduncle of 2 ft., arising from rhizome. Red bracts overlapping, more conspicuous than small yellowish-white flws. Ishikawa, S. 157 Maui BISH 1972-10-14
47 Zingiber zerumbet Waimea Arboretum & Botanical Garden, Haleiwa Preserved_Specimen Variegated form. Orr, D. 27 Oahu BISH 1994-12-16
48 Zingiber zerumbet Kawaiakaahu Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 463 Lanai BISH 1929-10-15
49 Zingiber zerumbet Kaluanui Gulch Preserved_Specimen Garber, D.W. 475 Oahu BISH 1920-07-04
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