Accession Data

Alpinia zerumbet

Common Name: Shell Ginger

Family: Zingiberaceae

Country of Origin: southeast Asia

Uses: Main Actions (in order)2:
hypotensive (lowers blood pressure), stomachic (aids digestion), antimicrobial, febrifuge (reduces fever), analgesic (reduces pain)

Main Uses2:

  • as a heart tonic and for high blood pressure
  • as a digestive aid for stomach upset, indigestion and intestinal gas
  • for colds, flu and fever
  • as a mild diuretic
  • for candida and fungal conditions

Properties/Actions Documented by Research2:
analgesic, antibacterial, anticandidal, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimycobacterial, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiplatelet, antispasmodic, antiulcerous, diuretic, hypotensive, insecticidal, muscle relaxant, uterine stimulant

Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use2:
balsamic, cardiotonic, carminative, diuretic, febrifuge, hypotensive, and stomachic

Cautions2: It stimulates the uterus and is contraindicated in pregnancy. It may also increase the effectiveness of medications used to treat hypertension.

Accession Data

USDA Zone: 8a-11

Accession #: 198500380

Accession Date: 1985-12-31 00:00:00

Bloom Status: 🪴 Not Flowering

Location: 1212

Quantity: 1

Source: Unknown

Classification

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Liliopsida

Subclass: commelinids

Order: Zingiberales

Family: Zingiberaceae

SubFamily: Alpinioideae

Tribe: Alpinieae

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003

References

  1. Hortus Third, LH Bailey Hortorium, 1976
  2. Rainforest Tropical Plant Database - Leslie Taylor 2005 {dead link as of Wednesday, 12 December, 2018}
  3. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Accessed 4 March 2105.
  4. WCSP (2015). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Accessed 4 March 2015.
  5. Images #00 (cropped) & #01 (original) by Primejyothi [CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons. Last accessed Wednesday, 12 December, 2018.

Images

Alpinia zerumbet
Alpinia zerumbet