Hellenia , Observ. Bot. 6: 18 (1791).
Banksea J.Koenig; Cheilocostus C.D.Specht; Costus L.
Taxon Description
Terrestrial erect herbs. Stems terete, straight or spirally curved, distinct nodes with elongated internodes, unbranched, fleshy, leafy, red. Leaves spirally twisted, petioles very short or absent, pubescent, blades elliptic to oblong, margin entire or lacerated, lateral veins parallel with dotted lines, surface glabrous or hairy, base sub-rounded to attenuate, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences terminal on leafy shoots, conical, many flowered. Bracts imbricate, broad, flower arising singly from the axil of each bract. Flowers sessile, large, showy. Calyx 3-lobed, lobes equal to unequal, longer than bracts. Corolla tube shorter, equal or longer than calyx, lobes oblong or ovate-to lanceolate. Labellum obovate, large, margin incurved, pink to white. Fertile stamens borne above the labellum, petaloid; anther locules linear. Ovules many per locule, superposed; style filiform; stigma funnel-shaped. Capsule 3-valved, globose or ellipsoid, woody, dehiscent. Seeds covered with a hard seedcoat.
Taxon Statistics
Worldwide eight species in tropical and subtropical regions. Two species in Nepal.
Key to Species
1a Calyx lobes oblong, apex obtuse. Bract disintegrating into fibers at anthesis, apex acute. Capsule ellipsoid…………………….……………………………..1. H. lacera
b Calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate, apex acute. Bract not disintegrating into fibers, apex sharply pointed. Capsule globose……………………………………. speciosa
1. Hellenia lacera (Gagnep.) Govaerts, Phytotaxa 151(1): 64 (2013).
Costus lacerus Gagnep., Bull. Soc. Bot. France 50: 261 (1903); Cheilocostus lacerus (Gagnep.) C.D.Specht
Herbs 1.2–2 m. Rhizomes 2–2.5 cm thick. Stem usually straight. Leaves sometimes spirally arranged, sheath tubular, 5–6 cm long, often hairy, sheath margin green to pale green, petiole 5–10 mm; blades elliptic to oblong, 15–36 X 3.5–8.5 cm, upper surface glabrescent, lower surface hirsute, base attenuate, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences ovoid, 5–8 cm; bracts green to reddish, ovate to rounded, 3.5–4.5 X 1.5–2.5 cm, chartaceous, disintegrating into fibers at anthesis, apex acute; bracteoles narrowly oblong, 10–15 mm. Calyx reddish, lobes oblong, 2–3 cm, apex obtuse, unequal. Corolla tube 1.5–2 cm, shorter than calyx, lobes white, oblong, 4–5 cm. Labellum white-pink, sometimes with pale yellow at center, trumpet-shaped, 8–9 cm, margin lacerate. Stamens white, oblong, 4.5–5 cm, apex acute. Ovary ovoid ca. 4 mm. Capsule brown, ellipsoid, 1.3–3 cm. Seeds dark brown to black, 1–2 mm, aril very reduced, surface wrinkled.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma, E Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range:1000–1500 m.
Ecology: In dense forests, along streamside, steep rocky and shady places.
Flowering: July–August.
Fruiting: September–November.
2. Hellenia speciosa (J.Koenig) S.R.Dutta, Pleione 7: 228 (2013).
Banksea speciosa J.Koenig, Observ. Bot., 3: 75 (1783); Costus speciosus (J.Koenig) Sm.; Cheilocostus speciosus (J.Koenig) C.D.Specht
बेत लौरी Bet lauri (Nepali)
Herbs 1–2 m. Rhizomes 2–3 cm thick. Stems spirally twisted when old. Leaves spirally arranged, sheath tubular, 2.5–6 cm, hairy, margin purple; petiole 4–5 mm; blades lanceolate or oblong, 15–31 x 3.5–9.5 cm, upper surface glabrous, lower surface sparsely hairy, base sub-rounded, apex acuminate. Inflorescences ellipsoid or ovoid, 3–10 cm; bracts red, ovate, 1.5–3 X 0.5–2.5 cm, coriaceous, not disintegrating into fibers during and after anthesis, apex sharply pointed; bracteoles ovate, 10–15 mm. Calyx light red, lobes ovate to lanceolate, 2–2.5 cm, apex acute, equal. Corolla tube 2.5–5 cm, equal or longer than calyx, lobes white-pink, oblong to elliptic, 4.5–5 cm long. Labellum white, orange red at center, trumpet-shaped, 6–9 cm, margin undulate. Stamens white, funnel-shaped, 4–6 cm, apex obtuse. Ovary ovoid to ellipsoid, 5–8 mm. Capsule red, globose, 10–15 mm. Seeds dark black, 2.5–3 mm, with white aril, surface smooth.
Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, E Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 100–1700 m.
Ecology: On shady, moist and rocky places, ravine of Tropical and Subtropical forest.
Flowering: June–August. Fruiting: September–November.
Note: Fruit and seed not seen, characters cited from literature (Flora of China, Flora of Bhutan).