Zingiber

Zingiber is a genus of flowering plants in the family Zingiberaceae, comprising about 50 to 60 species of rhizomatous perennials. Native to tropical Asia and the Pacific, the genus is closely related to Alpinia and Elettaria. The best known species is Zingiber officinale, the culinary ginger, whose aromatic rhizomes are used as a spice and in beverages. Other species are cultivated as ornamentals, notably Zingiber spectabile (beehive or bonnet ginger) and Zingiber zerumbet (shampoo or pinecone ginger). Members of the genus vary in size but typically form clumps with long, lanceolate leaves and vibrant inflorescences produced above the foliage.

Zingiber plants are herbaceous perennials with creeping rhizomes. Stems are usually unbranched, bearing alternating leaves that arise from the rhizome. Leaves are long and lanceolate with a distinct sheathing base. The inflorescence is a bract-covered spike, often emerging from the leaf axil; flowers are typically surfaced with colorful bracts and showy tepals, and they are insect- or bird-pollinated in natural habitats. The fruits, when produced, are capsules or berries and are uncommon in cultivated species.

Distribution is mainly tropical. They require warm temperatures, high humidity, and well-drained, fertile soils. In cultivation, they are propagated by dividing rhizomes or by root cuttings and prefer shade to partial sun. Ginger rhizomes are widely harvested for culinary, medicinal, and fragrance uses; ornamentals are valued for their striking floral displays and foliage.

The name Zingiber derives from Latin zingiber, from Greek zingiberis, ultimately from a Dravidian or Sanskrit term for ginger.