ZINGIBERACEAE

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            1. SYSTEMATIC POSITION:
            Bentham & Hooker
            Division: Phanerogames (Seed Plants)
                 Class: Monocotyledones
                        Series: Epigynae
                               Family: Zingiberaceae (Scitamineae)
           
            2. MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS:
            Habit – Perennial herbs with creeping or tuberous rootstocks (rhizome).
            Leaves – Simple, petiolate or sessile, sheathing, entire, linear, lanceolate or broader, radical or cauline, ligule prominent.
            Inflorescence – Solitary, in heads, bracteates spikes or panicles.
            Flower – Hermaphrodite, zygomorphic, epigynous.
            Perianth – Tepals 6, arranged in two whorls, of-course distinguishable into calyx and corolla.
            Androecium – Stamens 6, in 2 whorls, only median posterior stamen of the inner whorl is functional and epipetalous, the other two stamens of the inner whorl are united to form a 2-lipped labellum, an anterior stamen of the outer whorl is absent and the remaining 2 modified into petaloid staminodes or absent.
            Gynoecium – Tricarpellary, syncarpous, inferior, trilocular or unilocular, ovules numerous, placentation axile, style and stigma 1.
            Fruit – A capsule.
            Seed – Arillate.
               4. COMPARATIVE SYSTEMATIC POSITION AND AFFINITIES:
            Engler & Prantl have included the families Zingiberaceae, Musaceae, Cannaceae and Marantaceae in the order Scitamineae. The family was included in the order Zingiberales by Hutchinson, Cronquist and Takhtajan.
            Zingiberaceae is closely related to Musaceae in habit, zygomorphic flower and inferior ovary. However, due to the reduction of androecium, Zingiberaceae have been considered to be more advanced. The family Zingiberaceae is also considered to be related to Liliaceae and Commeliaceae.
               5. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE:
            1. The family is economically important for its spice value. Economically valued spices are – Zingiber officinale (Zinger), Curcuma longa (Turmeric), C. amada (Mango ginger), Elletaria cardamomum (True cardamom), Amomum subulum (Nepal cardamom), Costus spp., Hedychium spp., Alpinia spp., Kaempferia spp., etc.
            2. Cucurma zedoaria and Costus speciosus are used as medicine.
            3. Common ornamental garden plants are – Hedychium coronarium and Kaempferia rotunda.
           
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