Plant
Indian Head Ginger
Costus scaberAlso known as Spiral Flag
Indian head ginger is a tropical herb whose broad leaves spiral around an upright cane. A compact red to orange cone of overlapping bracts forms at the stem tip, with tubular yellow flowers emerging a few at a time.
Spiral LeavesTropical HerbCone Bracts
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPhotosynthetic; rhizomes store resources while roots absorb moisture and soil nutrients
Predators
- Caterpillars
- Snails
- Browsing mammals
ThreatsForest clearing, herbicide use, drought, root disturbance, and removal from wild sites
HabitatsHumid tropical forest, secondary growth, stream margins, shaded clearings, roadsides, and gardens
Life spanPerennial; rhizomatous clumps can persist for many years
Classification
- FamilyCostaceae
- SpeciesCostus scaber
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Leave wild stems and rhizomes intact and avoid trampling humid forest margins.
Responsible observation
- Identify: Follow the spiral leaf arrangement to a red terminal bract cone.
- Watch: Small yellow tubular flowers emerge between overlapping bracts.
- Protect: Observe without cutting canes or dividing rhizome clumps.
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