Costus scaber Ruiz & Pav.

Rather stout plants 1-2 m. tall, the stem somewhat spiral, usually dispropor-tionally thick; leaves oblong-oblanceolate, rather abruptly acuminate, broadly cuneate toward the base, very shortly petiolate, 15-30 cm. long, 5-8 cm. broad, generally puberulent beneath, particularly the midrib, essentially glabrous above; inflorescence broadly ovoid, set amongst the reduced upper leaves, 3-8 cm. long; bracts ovate, rather narrowly acute, 2.5-4.0 cm. long, orange to scarlet, without a callus, essentially glabrous; calyx about 1 cm. long, broadly 3-dentate, red; ovary 0.4 cm. long; corolla about 3 cm. long, the labellum and stamen about equalling, bright yellow.

It is a tropical plant. It grows on the edge of forests and along streams.

The leaves are boiled and made into a fermented drink.