Ornamental Zingiberaceae

Abstract

The family Zingiberaceae (in which I include Costus and other spiral gingers) is the largest and most widespread in the Zingiberales. The forty nine genera and about 1400 species occur throughout the warm parts of the world from 32 degrees North lattitude to 30 degrees South lattitude and from sea level to 4200 meters altitude. As a result of this ecological diversity zingiberaceous plants are adapted to a wider range of situations in cultivation than any other tropical family.