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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Washington, D.C. » National Arboretum » Floral and Nursery Plants Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #188598
Title: ZINGIBERACEAE

Author
item Whittemore, Alan

Submitted to: Jepson Manual of the Higher Plants of California, Ed. 2.
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/23/2007
Publication Date: 6/13/2007
Citation: Whittemore, A.T. Zingiberaceae. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California ed 2. vol. 13.

Interpretive Summary: This contribution will form a section of The Jepson Manual of the higher plants of California, a manual published by the University of California to provide up-to date information on the taxonomy, distribution, and ecological status of all plants that are wild or invasive in California, together with a guide for identification, aimed at professional and sophisticated amateur users. The distribution and ecological status of the sole species of Zingiberaceae that is known to escape in California is reevaluated based on reexamination of the available herbarium specimens, and information for identification is supplied. This species is native to southern Asia, and is grown as an ornamental in California; this study indicates that it is not well adapted to the regional climate and is not a significant threat to the native flora at the site where it has escaped. This contribution provides up-to-date information on the biology of this family in Californa, along with identification aids. It will be used by professional land managers, educators, conservationists, and sophisticated amateur botanists and horticulturalists, insuring that work on land management and conservation will be based on full, accurate and up-to-date information about the basic biology and relationships of these organisms.

Technical Abstract: The family Zingiberaceae is treated for The Jepson Manual of the higher plants of California, a detailed floristic manual for the state published by the University of California. Only a single species is known to escape from cultivation in California; a full morphological description and brief summaries of geographical and ecological distribution, economic use, and taxonomic notes are given. This species is native to southern Asia, and is grown as an ornamental in California; this study indicates that it is not well adapted to the regional climate and is not a significant threat to the native flora at the site where it has escaped. This contribution will support accurate identification and present and future monitoring of species that escape from cultivation.