Costaceae
A family of tropical plants known as spiral gingers, with spiral leaves and showy flowers.
What is it?
Costaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Zingiberales. They are often called spiral gingers because their leaves grow in a spiral pattern. They are native to tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The Red Spiral Ginger (Costus woodsonii) is a member of this family. Unlike true gingers, Costaceae plants do not have the aromatic oils that give ginger its smell.
Why it matters
Costaceae plants are important for their unique spiral growth and bright flowers. They are popular in gardens and are used in traditional medicine in some cultures.
Where you've seen it
This list grows as you capture more Costaceae plants.