Zingiber officinale Roscoe

Rhizomes branched, yellowish inside, thickened, fleshy, strongly aromatic. Pseudostems 50--100 cm. Leaves sessile; ligule slightly 2-lobed, 2--4 mm, membranous; leaf blade lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 15--30 × 2--2.5 cm, glabrescent. Inflorescences arising from rhizomes, ovoid, 4--5 × ca. 1.5 cm; peduncle to 25 cm; bracts pale green, sometimes yellowish at margin, ovate, ca. 2.5 cm, apex mucronate; bracteoles equaling bracts. Calyx ca. 1 cm. Corolla yellowish green; tube 2--2.5 cm; lobes lanceolate, ca. 1.8 cm. Central lobe of labellum with purple stripe and cream blotches, oblong-obovate, shorter than corolla lobes; lateral lobes ovate, ca. 6 mm, free nearly to base. Stamen dark purple; anther ca. 9 mm; connective appendage curved, ca. 7 mm. Fl. Oct. 2 n = 22*.

It is a tropical plant. It is mainly grown from sea level up to 1900 m altitude in the tropics but will grow at higher places. It needs a loose fertile soil. It does best with plenty of humus. It requires a rainfall of 1500 mm or more per year. It does best where there is a short dry season and a good hot temperature. It cannot stand water-logging. In Nepal it grows to about 2500 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

The underground rhizome is eaten raw or in salads. The young shoots are spicy and can be eaten. These young shoots are eaten as a vegetable. They are also pickled. The rhizome can be dried and powdered. These old roots are used as a spice. They are preserved in syrup. Oil of ginger is used as a flavouring. Ginger is used for drinks. The inflorescence is eaten in soup.

A portion of the rhizome is planted 5-7 cm below the surface of the soil. Sometimes light shade is used but it can be grown without shade.