Hi All,
Can anyone tell me much about renealmias? On google, I found only one source that mentioned its origins - they said Renealmia are native to Central and South America.
Specifically, I am trying to find out about Renealmia africana. With a name like that, it doesn't sound like its from the Americas! Could it possibly be under another name?
Thanks so much!
Heather
renealmia
Yes, most are in Central and South America (about 55 species), quite common there, closely related to the Asian Alpinias. There are about 10-12 species in Africa. I don't know a whole lot about them, and there has not been much written on the African species, but Paul Maas did a complete monograph on the neo-tropical species in 1977 (Flora Neotropica Monograph No. 18).
Brief mention of African Renealmia in the Kew Bulletin, Vol 52, (3) 1997 by Poulsen and Lock. "The African species of Renealmia are relatively poorly known and a continent-wide revision is much needed. Dhetchuvi's thesis (1996) is as yet unpublished. The flowers of the African species are small and delicate and usually poorly preserved in herbarium material."
I found one reference to Renealmia africana (Hook. f.) Benth. in the Flora de la Guinea Continental Espanola - "Isle de Fernando Poo, Monte Camerun, [translated from Spanish] They are found from Spanish Guinea to Camaroun."
In the Flora of West Tropical Africa (1936 Hutchinson and Dalziel) there is a short description of R. africana. "Leafy stems up to 4 ft high, inflo arising from the stock below the leaves. Located upper forest slopes at 5000 ft in Cameroons Mts, Fernando Po 1300 ft, Extending to Gabon.
You might also check in Koechlin's Flore du Cameroun, published in 1965 or Flore du Gabon 1964. I only have the sections on Costus.
The foliage looks a lot like Alpinias but the flowers are quite different. I have been told they are very difficult to grow in the US and have only tried one species myself - one of the neo tropical species. I have a few photos on my thumbnail page at
http://www.gingersrus.com/images/thumbnail.php?columns=4&Folder=Other%20Gingers%20-%20P-Z
Dave Skinner
www.gingersrus.com
Thanks so much, Dave. I am very much intrigued by African gingers, and especially considering that not a lot is known about them.
Heather
Me too! I have been gathering together every scrap of literature I can find on African Costus (my specialty) and if the political climate in tropical Africa was a little more secure, I would be exploring there instead of in Central America for Costus.
Africa has a number of interesting species including some with very good landscape potential in the US. The Siphonochilus species in particular have promise because they are deciduous and therefor most of them potentially hardy to about zone 8. DNA studies have shown that gingers got their start in that genus in Africa, and spread from there to Asia and the Americas. There are also some Kaempferias (or close Kaempferia relatives) in Africa.
Another genus that is (I think) limited to Africa is Aframomum. Most of these are not so ornamental but I have one - Aframomum daniellii - that is quite showy with large basal flowers. I have a few photos from 2005 on my website now at
http://www.gingersrus.com/DataSheet.php?PID=3529
but it flowered much more this year. I have more photos but have not had a chance to get them processed and loaded to my website.
Dave Skinner
www.gingersrus.com
Hi Dave,
I am interested in African gingers also because of their conservation status and ethnobotanical uses. The Siphonochilus aethiopicus is nearly extinct in some parts of Southern Africa because it was highly prized for its medicinal purposes (as well as its ability to ward off snakes and lighting!). Costus dubius and C. lucanusianus are also used medicinally in West Africa, as well as your Aframomum danielli (and other aframomums).
I hope to be doing some African plant exploration in the future. I heard DRC had very peaceful democratic elections this morning!! Perhaps that could be my first stop ;) There is supposed to be one species of aframomum that occurs only Angola.
Actually I have some field experience in South Africa and would probably start there....
There are also gingers in Madagascar, including one species of Hedychium, and the political climate there is just fine. Its a lovely place to visit - consider it!
I'll let you know when (if) this trip happens. Please let me know what new things you discover in the world of African gingers!
Heather
P.S. I had no idea that gingers apparently started in Africa. Good to know!
That is encouraging - the news about the DRC. It is probably prime territory for African Costus, and not much explored. The whole stretch of tropical West Africa from Gabon and Cameroon through the Congo. I need to take a fresh look at the State Department advisories on that area.
I had thought of Madagascar, but when I went to the flora of Madagascar listings at http://www.wildmadagascar.org/flora/, I did not see any Zingiberaceae or Costaceae except for an endemic species of Aulotandra, and I think I found a reference to one Aframomum species. Do you have a list of other species native to Madagascar?
About 4 years ago, John Kress published the results of his cladistic analysis of Zingiberaceae and Siphonochilos turned out to be the basal clade. He also realigned the subfamilies and tribes based on this analysis. I posted a chart of this reclassification on my web pages for the Third Symposium on Zingiberaceae that was held four years ago in Thailand - http://www.gingersrus.com/Symposium/presentations/NewClassification.htm . I also have a copy of the published article with the cladistic chart if you are interested.
Dave Skinner
www.gingersrus.com
No - I don't have a list of Madagascar plants, but I am now asking around here at Fairchild and if any of the the botanists come up with one, I will let you know. We want to do a Malagasy plot in the garden, so a list of plants would be helpful!
I have not so far found anything about Costus in Madagascar. I guess they are mostly in West Africa? You know better than me. Aframomum danielli and a few other aframomums come from Madagascar. The one Hedychium that is from Madagascar is H. peregrinum, which I read about in Hardy Gingers, but so far have not come across anyone who has seen it themselves. I know there are two Autolandra species, maybe there are more?
Could be another good reason to visit... to document what's left of their gingers. Madagascar is not too far from Southern Africa so it could be a two-stop tour! South Africa is not bad, political-climate-wise (you just have to watch yourself in the cities, like any big city around the world). Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Namibia are all ok. Africa is a huge continent and not every country is in turmoil. You would have to stay away from Zimbabwe of course. Probably parts of Angola and Nigeria. But there are lovely parts of West Africa that are not in any turmoil at all, e.g. Ghana.
I would love a copy of the article and chart. Would you send it email or snail mail?
Thanks!
Heather
Okay, I see the passing reference to it in the first paragraph on Hedychiums. Much of Branney's book must be taken with caution - several inaccuracies and many of the cultivar names were taken from my website. None the less, the book is very good overall, and Kew Gardens in London has a Madagascar project, so he probably got this info from there, and it is probably valid.
BTW, to any of the new ginger gardeners who may be reading this, the book we are talking about is "Hardy Gingers", by T. M. E. Branney, published by Timber Press for the Royal Horticultural Society in 2005. It is the best, in fact the ONLY book on gingers since Tim Chapman's book. It lists many garden cultivars and gives valid cultural info (how to grow), but is somewhat slanted toward British gardening. I think it is still available on Amazon.com and other places.
Heather, my interest is so focussed on Costus that I won't be going to Madagascar unless there is some indication there are Costaceae located there. I did not realize you are at Fairchild. David BarZvi was a friend, always very hospitable and a great ginger person. I was so sorry to hear of his passing. Anyhow, much of this chat is probably boring to everyone else, so please email me privately at skinnerd@nettally.com. I will be happy to send you a copy of the article and the chart.
Dave Skinner
www.gingersrus.com
I am excited to see these great discussions taking place on this forum which appears to be quite active. The other forum I would normally visit has been all but interesting for a couple years. I have one Renealmia sp. that I purchased from Tom a few years ago that has done quite well for me but it is growing in a very protected non-freezing area althoug hit is not greenhoused. Africa definately has some interesting plants that go virtually unknown due to the current situations in Africa. The lack of concern for protecting the fragile population in some areas is concerning to say the least.
Hi Scott, good to "see" you again. Do you also still have the Siphonochilus brachystemon you got from Tom? I think it is one of the most beautiful in the genus. For those unfamiliar with this plant it produces deep lavendar-blue flowers. Photos at
http://www.gingersrus.com/DataSheet.php?PID=3658
I had an inquiry about another blue flowering Siphonochilus that I had never heard of before - S. natalensis - which was described to me as
"a larger version of aethiopicum, about 4-4 1/2" tall, a little deeper color, rather rectangular, taller than wide. Fairly narrow leaves, upright grower, with a glaucous green- slightly gray leaf."
Have you ever heard of that one? Supposedly Tom used to have it, but I have never seen it when I visited at his place.
Dave Skinner
www.gingersrus.com