Ethnobotanical Plants of Tripura
Hellenia specoisa Family: Costaceae Common name : Crepe Ginger, Wild Ginger Bengali : Keu Botanical description: Rhizome : tuberous. Leaves : Simple, spirally arranged on the stem, oblanceolate or oblong, glabrous above,silky pubescent beneath with broad leaf sheaths. Inflorescence : Spikes terminal, more or less globose. Flowers white, large, fragrant, bracts bright red; stamen one, perfect,lip large with incurved margin. Fruit : Globose or ovoid capsule bright red, dehiscing loculicidal; seeds black with fleshy white aril. Flowering & Fruiting : July-October Parts used: Rhizome and stem Medicinal use: Tripuri, Chakma,and Halam communities of Tripura utilize different parts of Hellenia specoisa for an array of survival, diatery and healthcare needs: (i) Rhizome juice or paste has been used to treat fever, rash, asthma , anaemia, diabetes, skin diseases, rheumatism , bronchitis, and intestinal worms.[1,2,3] (ii) It is mentioned in the Kama Sutra a...