''Costus'' is a genus of herbaceous

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

plants in the family Costaceae, erected by

Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné,#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. was a Swedish biologist and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming o ...

in 1753. It is widespread through tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and the Americas. ''Costus'' is often characterized and distinguished from relatives such as '' Zingiber'' (true ginger) by its spiraling stems. The genus as a whole is thus often called spiral gingers, but this can also refer to '' C. barbatus'' specifically. It is important not to confuse ''Costus scaber'', ''C. spectabilis'' etc. with the herb known by the common name " costus". '' Costus spectabilis'' is the floral emblem of Nigeria; its flowers are represented (erroneously in red instead of yellow color) on its coat of arms. '' Costus productus'' and '' Costus guanaiensis'' are among the species of ''Costus'' with edible flowers. Other ''Costus'' species' flowers have also been determined to be edible. Some ''Costus'' species have traditional medicinal and veterinary uses. For example, in Trinidad and Tobago, a mix of '' Costus scaber'' juice and crushed ''

Renealmia alpinia ''Renealmia alpinia'' is a flowering plant species native to the Americas, where it grows from southern Mexico through much of South America, though not in the Southern Cone. It can also be found on several Caribbean islands. In Quechua it is ...

'' berries is used to treat dogs bitten by snakes. ''Costus'' naturally hybridizes, and commercial hybrids have also been produced.

Species

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

recognises 115 species, as follows: ; Formerly placed here Numerous other species have been called ''Costus'' over the years, but are now regarded as members of other genera. Such genera include '' Alpinia'', ''

Amomum ''Amomum'' is a genus of plants containing about 111 species native to China, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Queensland. It includes several species of cardamom. Plants of this genus are remarkable for their pungency and ...

'', '' Caulokaempferia'', '' Cheilocostus'', '' Chamaecostus'', '' Dimerocostus'', '' Hellenia'', '' Paracostus'', '' Renealmia'', '' Tapeinochilos'', etc.

Gallery

File:Starr 070306-5217 Costus comosus.jpg, ''Costus comosus'' File:Palmengarten fg20.jpg, ''Costus dubius'' File:Costus malortieanus H.Wendl. - Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras.jpg, ''Costus malortieanus'' File:Costus productus Gleason ex Maas - Peru.jpg, ''Costus productus'' File:Spiralingwer (Costus dubius).jpg, ''Costus dubius''

References

{{Authority control Zingiberales genera