5. Kaempferia L., Sp. pl. 1: 2 (1753).
By: Kalpana S. Dhakal
Taxon Description
Dwarf terrestrial herbs. Rhizome tuberous. Pseudostem indistinct. Leaves basal, mostly 2-4, petiolate. Ligule inconspicuous. Inflorescence basal or terminal, appearing before leaves. Bracts each subtending a single flower. Bracteoles open to base. Flowers small, white and showy. Calyx shortly tubular, split on one side. Corolla tube slender, lobes equal, usually narrow and spreading. Staminodes broad, petaloid. Labellum broad, deeply bilobed and showy. Filament short, arcuate; connective prolonged into distinct reflexed crest; anther dithecous. Ovary 3-loculed, with axile placentation; style long, filiform; stigma capitate. Capsule oblong, 3-celled, indehiscent. Seeds many, subglobose to ellipsoid, arillate.
Taxon Statistics
Worldwide about 33 species and are distributed in China, Costa Rica, Honduras, India, Malaysia, Nepal. Only one species recorded from Nepal.
1. Kaempferia rotunda L., Sp. Pl. 1: 3 (1753).
भुइँ चम्पा Bhuin champa (Nepali)
Herbs ca. 35 cm. Rhizome large ca. 3.5 X ca. 2.5 cm. with tuberous root. Leaves 2, petiole 2.5–4 cm; leaf blade oblong, ca. 28 X ca. 11 cm, apex acuminate. Inflorescence on separate shoots arising from rhizomes, appearing before pseudostems, sessile or shortly pedunculate, peduncle ca. 3 cm. covered with sheath. Flowers 4–6; bracts 2 in each flower, oblong; bracteoles bidentate. Flowers very large. Calyx as long as the tube of corolla, apex 2-3 toothed dotted purplish color. Corolla tube long ca. 4cm, slender, cylindric, nearly erect, obliquely funnel-shaped towards the mouth; petals white, linear. Staminodes broad, lanceolate, erect, acute, creamy with red blotch lobes, pointed at the apex. Anther crest exceeding thecae, divided into 2-4 segments. Ovary pubescent, 4-6 mm. Capsule pale brown, oblong to ellipsoid, 1-1.5 cm, Seeds numerous, sub globose to ellipsoid, 2–3 mm, aril white.
Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, E Asia, S Asia, SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 500–2100 m.
Ecology: Found on shady floor under Albizia in mixed forest.
Flowering/ Fruiting: May—June.