Characteristics
A ginger family herb. It has rhizomes or underground stems. It keeps growing from year to year and grows 2 m high and spreads 1 m wide. The stems are erect. They are leafy. The leaves are oblong and taper to the tip. They are bright green. They have parallel veins. The leaves are 25 cm long and sheath the stem. The flowers are mauve. They are in spikes at the ends of the plant. The fruit are acid. They are in long spikes. The seeds are brown.
| Life form |
perennial
|
| Growth form |
herb
|
| Growth support |
free-standing
|
| Foliage retention |
-
|
| Sexuality |
hermaphrodite
|
| Pollination |
-
|
| Spread |
-
|
| Mature width (meter) |
1.0
|
| Mature height (meter) |
2.0
|
| Root system |
rhizome
|
| Rooting depth (meter) |
-
|
| Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
| Flower color |
-
|
| Blooming months |
-
|
| Fruit color |
-
|
| Fruiting months |
-
|
| Nitrogen fixer |
-
|
| Photosynthetic pathway |
-
|
Environment
It is a tropical plant. It needs humus-rich moist soil. It is best in a protected shaded position. It is sensitive to drought and frost.
| Light |
-
|
| Soil humidity |
-
|
| Soil texture |
-
|
| Soil acidity |
-
|
| Soil nutriment |
-
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
|
Usage
The dark red fruit are succulent and edible. The leaves are used as a spice and flavouring.
Cultivation
Plants are grown by division.
| Mode |
-
|
| Germination duration (days) |
-
|
| Germination temperacture (C°) |
-
|
| Germination luminosity |
-
|
| Germination treatment |
-
|
| Minimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Optimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Size |
-
|
| Vigor |
-
|
| Productivity |
-
|
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