''Costus afer'', English ginger lily or common ginger lily, is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of plant native to Tropical Africa. ''Costus afer'' is widely cultivated. It has many traditional uses, including but not limited to treating a range of medical ailments. ''Costus afer'' is high in

diosgenin Diosgenin, a phytosteroid sapogenin, is the product of hydrolysis by acids, strong bases, or enzymes of saponins, extracted from the tubers of '' Dioscorea'' wild yam species, such as the Kokoro. It is also present in smaller amounts in a num ...

. ''Costus afer'' has a wide native distribution spanning North East Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, and Southern Tropical Africa. ''Costus afer'' is sometimes confused with other African species of ''Costus'', such as '' Costus dubius'' and '' Costus lucanusianus''. It is also similar looking to ''

Costus louisii ''Costus'' is a genus of herbaceous perennial plant, perennial plants in the family Costaceae, erected by Carl Linnaeus, Linnaeus in 1753. It is widespread through tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and the Americas. ''Costus'' ...

''.

References

Flora of Africa afer Plants used in traditional African medicine Garden plants {{improve categories, date=July 2024