Dec 122012
 

The original fruit samples of this one were from Mr. Edmund Sana of the Dept. of Agriculture; we fondly called him “Sir” or “Kuya Ed”; a very generous guy who finds enjoyment in giving out planting materials to fellow members at the Rarefruit Society of the Philippines.

Materials identified by : Ulysses Ferreras (Field Botanist)

Specimen : Wild & Cultivated

Habitat : Along creeks

Local names : Tagbak, Tugbak

Botanical name : Alpinia elegans

Family : Zingiberaceae

Height : 2-3 meters

Fruiting season : Matured fruits observed in March

Traits : Herbaceous; Low to medium altitude species; Rhizomous; Thicket-forming; Tolerant of frequent inundation

Recommendations : Fruit collector’s; Ornamental plant; Public gardens; Wildcrafting

Used for : Fruit rind edible but a little woody in texture; Rhizomes, leaves and juice of the stem are used in traditional medicine

Native range : The Philippines

National conservation status : Not threatened

Possible threats : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, commercial or residential use; Water pollutants and runoffs

(Note : Synonymous to Kolowratia elegans)

Further reading :

Alpinia elegans http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/herbarium/digitallib/collections/hlaplants/pdfs/Zin_Alpinia_elegans_w.pdf

Bureau of Plant Industry Publications - Kolowratia elegans http://www.bpi.da.gov.ph/Publications/mp/pdf/t/tagbak.pdf

E-Prosea - Alpinia elegans http://www.proseanet.org/prosea/e-prosea_detail.php?frt=&id=898 (502)