Pleuranthodium racemigerum (F.Muell.) R.M.Sm.

Zingiberaceae

Smith, R.M. (1991) Edinb. J. Bot. 48: 65.

Ginger, Raceme; Ginger, Orange Fruited; Orange Fruited Ginger; Raceme Ginger

Usually flowers and fruits as a shrubby plant about 1-3 m tall but it should be noted that only the leaves are above ground level. The true stem is below the soil surface.

Leaf blades sessile, glabrous, about 25-46 x 6-10 cm, ligule about 0.2-0.5 cm long, margin entire, glabrous or sparsely ciliate.

Inflorescence pendulous, up to 30 cm long. Bracts caducous, one per flower. Bracteoles absent. Calyx about 6-10 mm long. Corolla tube shorter than the calyx, lobes up to 10 mm long. Labellum up to 10 x 10 mm. Anther about 3.5 mm long, without a crest, filament about 7-9 mm long, wider than the anther. Ovary about 3-4 mm long, pubescent.

Capsules orange, pubescent on the outer surface, about 15-20 mm long. Seeds numerous, green or black, about 5 mm long.

One or two cataphyll-like leaves produced before the first true leaves. First true leaf cordate or ovate, about 6-7 mm long, petiole very short or nil. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade linear-lanceolate, about 9-10 x 1-1.5 cm very shortly petiolate, glabrous. Sheathing leaf base glabrous, ligule mainly glabrous except for a few ciliate hairs on the margins, apex truncate. Seed germination time 35 to 49 days.

Occurs in NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 1000 m. Grows in disturbed areas in well developed lowland and upland rain forest. Probably occurs in New Guinea, fide Smith (1987).

Psychanthus racemigera (F.Muell.) R.M.Smith, Edinb. J. Bot. 47: 82(1990). Alpinia racemigera F.Muell., Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 8: 27(1874), Type: Queensland, Rockingham Bay, 28 Oct. 1870, J. Dallachy s.n.; lecto: MEL.