Genus: Hedychium J.Koenig
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Habitat: |
Native to south east Asia and madagascar, distributed through North America, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America and Australia. |
Feature: |
Pseudostems well -developed, 1--3 m. Inflorescences projecting from tip of pseudostem, dense, conelike [lax ]; bracts of main axis crowded [not crowded], [2.5--]4--6[--7] cm, ovate to lanceolate [or almost circular]; cincinni sessile, [1--]2--3[--6]-flowered, enclosed in bracts; bracteoles small, inconspicuous, hidden by bracts. Flowers: calyx cylindric , 3-toothed or -lobed, split down one side [not split]; corolla tube slender, lobes linear ; filament linear, tubular-incurved, enclosing style; anther long-exserted, not spurred , terminal appendage none; lateral staminodes large, petal-like, lip oblong , plane , 2-lobed. Fruits capsule, globose. |
Economic Importance: |
Hedychium's economic importance stands primarily on its medicinal and ornamental values, with little support as a condiment and source of food and biomass. |
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| Medicinal Importance: |
Members of this family is known to possess digestive, stomachic and vasodilator property. The rhizomes are also believed to be effective against asthma and internal injuries. | ||||||
Classification
| Hedychium | |
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| Hedychium | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Subkingdom: | Viridaeplantae |
| Infrakingdom: | Streptophyta |
| Division: | Tracheophyta |
| subdivision: | Spermatophytina |
| Infradivision: | Angiospermae |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Superorder: | Lilianae | Order: | Zingiberales |
| Family: | Zingiberaceae |
| Genus: | Hedychium |
Phylogenetic description
Hedychium is known to be morphogenetically variable but we have noticed the plastid sequence variation is low among the species. The reason behind this could be numerous such as recent diversification, intraspecific hybridization or result of vegetative propogation. The phylogeny of the genus is discussed in detail, HERE.Related publications
1) Phylogeny of Hedychium and related genera (zingiberaceae) based on its sequence data. Wood TH, Whitten WM, Williams NH. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 2000; 57: 261-270.2) Phylogenetic analysis and genetic mapping of Chinese Hedychium using SRAP markers. Gaoa L, Liub N, Huangc B, Hua X.Scientia Horticulturae. 2008 Aug; 117(4): 18, 369–377.
3) Ethnomedical uses of Zingiberaceous plants of Northeast India. Tushar, Basak S, Sarma GC, Rangan L. J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Oct 28;132(1):286-96