I posted this on the ID forum but am reposting here in case there are tropical experts here that don't check out the ID forum. I saw this ginger in Costa Rica...it may be native or introduced as it was growing on the grounds of a lodge I was staying in. I'd say its a Costus of some sort and although it looks quite distinct, I have had no luck ID'ing it. Anyone have any ideas?
Was it fragrant or did it smell like camphor?
I can't recall...I was intrigued by the bloom but didn't stop to smell it.
The foliage looks like a Hedychium, but the bloom looks like it was placed on top of that and not actually from that plant (as the leaves are still unraveling). The foliage definitely isn't a costus. The bloom looks like something else entirely, do you have more pictures? The only native gingers in the americas are costus (and mono and dimerocostus) and renealmia. Hedychiums are common as they've naturalized a good bit, but all introduced. The bloom doesn't look like a ginger, but if you had close ups of the individual flowers it would help.
Tim Chapman
Tim, I agree that it looks like the flower is sitting on the stem. I took these as slides in Costa Rica a fews back and scanned the slides. This is the only pic I have. I agree the plant looks like Hedychium. I don't recall any details about the plant when I took the pic, just that the orange was intriguing hence I took a shot. Guess I will never know what it is...I'll have to go back one of these days!
