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May 31, 2007 : Etlingera elatior

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Keywords: Zingiberaceae | Etlingera elatior (Jack) R.M. Sm. | cultivated in Vienna, Austria

Etlingera elatior

Today's image is courtesy of Monika (aka monika&manfred@Flickr) of Vienna, Austria (original | BPotD Flickr Group Pool). Much appreciated!

Now cultivated throughout the tropics, torch ginger is thought to be native to Indonesia, Malaysia and southern Thailand (via Flora of China), though other sites suggest a native distribution restricted to a few islands in Indonesia. Whatever its origin, widescale planting of Etlingera elatior has made torch ginger the hallmark species of this genus of approximately 70 species. That's a very loose approximation, because researcher Dr. Axel Dalberg Poulsen reports that Borneo alone contains 29 species, 10 of which were undescribed as of 2003 via this poster on the ecological and economic qualities of Etlingera. Dr. Poulsen also has a small photo gallery of Etlingera as well as photographs from his late 2006 / early 2007 field trip to Papua New Guinea (also discussed here).

An illustration of the flower from the 1880 work “Fleurs, fruits et feuillages choisis de l'ille de Java : peints d'après nature by Berthe Hoola van Nooten can be seen here (note that it uses a synonym for Etlingera elatior, Elettaria speciosa).

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at May 31, 2007 5:08 AM

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Comments

Wonderful shot!

The current issue (June 2007) of National Geographic has a delightful featured article on Carl Linnaeus entitled "The Name Giver" A Passion For ORDER. Try it out online at

nationalgeographic.com/publications

and for desktop photos of blooms classified by Linnaeus, go to

ngm.com/0706


Posted by: yousatonmycactus at May 31, 2007 8:25 AM

WOW!! Amazing, never seen anything like it. Fantastic photo and the flower looks really special.
Thanks for showing it!!!

Posted by: fotrristi at May 31, 2007 9:57 AM

simply beautiful

Posted by: Patricia at May 31, 2007 10:29 AM

I followed all your suggested links and had an amazing morning of armchair travel, art, Pacific Islander culture and botany. The photo was just the beginning...Thanks!

Posted by: Elizabeth Heinz at May 31, 2007 11:24 AM

These flowers are used as a spice/seasoning in Borneo. Here are a few shots of Etlingera in the Filipino Market in Kota Kinabalu:

http://www.orchidphotos.org/images/Borneo/Markets/gingerflowerslimeleaves_67.html

http://www.orchidphotos.org/images/Borneo/Markets/gingerflowers_66.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/435436521/

-Eric

Posted by: Eric in SF at May 31, 2007 12:33 PM

Thanks, Daniel, what a beautiful flower. I really enjoy seeing all the beautiful pictures you post!!!! Thanks so much for sharing them with us and acquainting us with the world of flora we wouldn't otherwise know about. I wish I lived closer to UBC and could visit your gardens!!!!

Posted by: Gail Moshier at June 1, 2007 5:25 AM

The article about Karl Linnaeus says he was an 'information architect' and the key to his work was persistent and careful observation coupled with a system. And, I would add, a universal language. Yes, the photos are lovely. But the system is sexy. Oh, his family name is from the Linden tree, a beautiful tall tree with flowers the bees love.

Posted by: Ms Blanding at June 21, 2007 12:51 PM

Such a very beautiful that I ever seen

Posted by: Crystal at September 13, 2007 10:09 PM

Too beautiful for words!!!

Posted by: hong at June 29, 2008 5:07 AM

hi ,
i really enjoy looking at the monika i think it is and also reding it was so fab i tell you

Posted by: cathy-col at September 22, 2008 12:46 AM

Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!

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