Etlingera is a genus of more than 100 species of herbaceous perennial plants in the ginger family, Zingiberaceae, placed in the order Zingiberales. The genus is native to the Indo-Pacific tropics, spanning South and Southeast Asia, Malesia, Papua New Guinea, northern Australia, and several Pacific island groups.
Plants range considerably in stature. The largest species produce leafy shoots that approach 10 metres in height, with shoot bases so thick they appear almost woody. Other species form tight clumps, while those with long creeping rhizomes may produce individual leafy shoots spaced more than a metre apart. A diagnostic character uniting all members of the genus is a tube that forms above the point where the corolla lobes insert on the flower — a structure not found in related ginger genera.
The best-known member is Etlingera elatior, commonly called torch ginger, torch lily, porcelain rose, or Philippine waxflower, valued for its striking, waxy inflorescence used in cooking and floral arrangements across tropical Asia.
Distribution
Etlingera species are native to India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, southern China, mainland Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Papua New Guinea, Queensland (Australia), and numerous Pacific islands — a range centered near the equator from sea level to about 2,500 metres elevation. Several species have also become naturalized in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Central America, Mauritius, and the islands of the Gulf of Guinea.
Ecology
Etlingera occupies humid tropical habitats from sea level to 2,500 metres, principally in rainforest understory and forest margins across the Indo-Pacific region. The wide altitudinal range and rhizomatous growth habit allow species to colonize disturbed as well as primary forest settings.
Cultural Uses
Etlingera species are widely used by communities across tropical Asia and Borneo. The tender inner sheaths of leafy shoots of several species are pulled out and eaten raw, cooked as a vegetable, or used as a pungent condiment; E. coccinea (tuhau in Sabah) and E. elatior (torch ginger) are especially cultivated for this purpose. The aromatic fruits are also commonly eaten. Various species are applied medicinally to treat headaches and stomachaches, and E. brevilabrumin — recognizable by its large red patches — is used externally to relieve skin irritation. Additional uses include ingredients in local perfumes and shampoos, and material for mat-weaving. A study of 40 Etlingera species in Borneo found that more than 70% carried local names and over 60% had at least one documented use among indigenous peoples.
