Photo 94433, (c) Anita, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)

Attribution © Anita
some rights reserved
Uploaded by anita363 anita363
Source Flickr
Original http://www.flickr.com/photos/61897811@N00/410265423
Associated observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior)

Observer

anita363

Date

December 23, 2006 04:50 PM EST

Description

Our safari guide called this a ginger flower. It was huge, maybe 15 cm across. Pretty sure I found the species (Etlingera elatior, aka Phaeomeria magnifica, Torch Ginger) -- it is indeed in the ginger family. Native to the Phillipines (possibly elsewhere), widely cultivated as an ornamental throughout the tropics. It was the occasion for a bit of culture shock. The guide said, "Wait here, I have something special for you," and disappeared into the underbrush. He returned carrying two of these huge flowers, complete with ~1 m stalks -- one for each of the ladies on the safari. I was shocked -- pick it, instead of leaving it to grow?? But to Polynesians, flowers are meant to be picked. In fact, the only plant introduced by foreign 'botanists' that the guide had anything good to say about was the hibiscus (IIRC), because it is good for decoration (women wear the flowers in their hair, etc.). Fresh flowers are used to decorate everything, and they grow in such profusion that they are viewed as a sustainable resource. Anyway, I followed him back into the underbrush and took this photo in situ.

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