Alpinia hainanensis
12th September 2006
A smallish species from Hainan Island, China. The rhizomes are used in Chinese medicine, and I think that was the intended destination for my dry rhizome, which has now come back into growth
(it's a good thing gingers are so tolerant!) One day it will produce heads of white flowers with a yellow lip.
I got it as Alpinia katsumadae, but I think this is probably the correct name.
14th September 2007
During the year, all of the Alpinias in the greenhouse have been dryer than I would have liked - I have been keeping them pot bound and on the dry side so that
they will be a bit more cold resistant, but I think the time has come to pot them on and feed them up a bit!