Dwarf Cone Ginger

Costus woodsonsii (Costaceae ~ Zingiberaceae)

Native to Southeast Asia

Generally called the spiral gingers, the 90 or so species of Costus have leaves arranged spirally or alternately along the stem. Most produce a compact terminal inflorescence similar to a pinecone atop the stem.

Costus woodsonsii has spiraled stems and grows to about a meter in height. The leaves are deep green, the bracts of the inflorescence are waxy red, and the yellow-orange flowers emerge from between the bracts.

Dwarf Cone Ginger is one of the “ant-plants”. Ant-plants provide food and/or nest sites to ants in exchange for protection from insect herbivores. The extrafloral nectar secreted from the bracts is harvested by ants while nectar secreted by the flowers is harvested by their hummingbird pollinators!

Our Ginger is on the EthnoBotany bench near the bog.