Botanical name: Etlingera elatior    Family: Zingiberaceae (Ginger family)
Synonyms: Alpinia elatior, Nicolaia elatior, Phaeomeria magnifica, Phaeomeria speciosa

Torch ginger, growing in large clumps 3-6 m high, is believed native to Indonesia. The plant is now grown in many tropical locations both for the extravagant 'flowers' and for food. The spectacular inflorescence rises from the rhizome to a height of 2 ft to more than 3 ft. The individual flowers will appear from between the pinecone-like scales above the waxy bracts. The leaves grow in ranks from separate stalks along the rhizome. The leafy stalks are evergreen and get 15-20 ft tall. Leaves are up to 85 x 18 cm. Fruiting head greenish or reddish, spherical, about 2.5 cm in diameter. Seeds are many, black. The stalks of the inflorescence are chopped and added to laksa pots (various curries or soups made with rice noodles).

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The flower labeled Torch Ginger is ...