Zingiber griffithii Baker

A ginger family herb that keeps growing from year to year. It has underground stems. The leafy shoots grow 1.2 m tall. The leaves are broadly sword shaped. They are 15-25 cm long by 5-8 cm wide. There are very fine silky hairs underneath. The flowers are in a compact spike. This is on a separate flower stalk. This is 4-15 cm long. The bracts are red and 2.5-4 cm long by 1.5-2.5 cm wide. The spike is 10-15 cm long by 1.5-3.5 cm wide. The fruit is a capsule. It is about 2 cm long. The seed are deep red.

A tropical plant. It grows in lowland forests. It is mostly in moist locations and shady sites in soil rich in humus.

The rhizome is spicy.