Alpinia Malaccensis

With an astonishing resemblance to a tropical orchid, this rarely seen plant in the Ginger family makes a beautiful and intriguing addition to any suitable garden, whilst in cooler climes it can make an impressive container exhibit indoors. A native of Indonesia and Malaysia, it is also cultivated for medicinal purposes, as an oil is obtained from the dried rhizome, and it is reputed to have many medicinal properties. In Arunachal Pradesh its flower buds and young flowers are eaten by the 'Adi' tribe and are said to be very tasty!