Class
Order
Classification
Subordinate Taxa
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Zingiberaceae Martinov
Description
Robust, short or very tall perennial herbs, often aromatic, from fleshy rootstocks, sometimes with tubers. Stems simple, rarely branching, leafy; occasionally 0. Leaves basal or cauline, sessile or petiolate, sheathing, usually distichous, occasionally spirally arranged, closely pinnately-veined from a strong midrib. Flowers large, usually bisexual, often zygomorphic, in terminal spikes, racemes, panicles, or solitary; each flower or flower-cluster with conspicuous bract. Perianth-segments 6 in 2 whorls; sepals 3, connate in a 3-toothed tube or spathe-like; petals 3, ± connate in a slender, 3-lobed tube, dorsal lobe often longer than lateral ones. Fertile stamen 1; staminodia 1–4, usually large and showy, occasionally joined in a labellum; filament of stamen slender, joined to perianth at base and occasionally to staminodia; anther 2-locular. Ovary inferior, 3–(2)-locular with axile placentae or 1-locular with parietal or rarely basal placentae; ovules usually many; style slender, filiform, ± enveloped in a channel of the filament and passing between the pollen-sacs of the anther; stigma usually entire, protruding beyond anther. Fruit a loculicidal capsule, or fleshy and berry-like, usually crowned by remains of perianth. Seeds many, arillate.
[From: Healy and Edgar (1980) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 3.]
Biostatus
Exotic
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Exotic: Fully Naturalised | 2 |
| Total | 2 |
Bibliography
Cronquist, A. 1988: The evolution and classification of flowering plants. The New York Botanic Gardens, New York.
Mabberley, D.J. 2008: Mabberley's plant book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Edition 3. Cambridge University Press.
Mabberley, D.J. 2017: Mabberley's plant book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Edition 4. Cambridge University Press.
