Thursday, November 25, 2010

Etlingera elatior or Bunga Kantan in Malay


Etlingera elatior (also known as Torch Ginger, Ginger Flower, Red Ginger Lily, Torch Lily, Wild Ginger, Combrang, Bunga Siantan, Philippine Wax Flower, Xiang Bao Jiaing, Indonesian Tall Ginger, Boca de Dragón, Rose de Porcelaine, Porcelain Rose) is a species of herbaceous perennial plant[citation needed]. Botanical synonyms include Nicolaia elatior,[1] Phaeomeria magnifica,[1] Nicolaia speciosa, Phaeomeria speciosa, Alpinia elatior, Alpinia magnifica.

The showy pink flowers are used in decorative arrangements while the flower buds are an important ingredient in the Nonya dish laksa. In North Sumatra, the flower buds are used for a dish called arsik ikan mas (Andaliman/Szechuan pepper Spiced Carp). It is high in antioxidant, very good for our health.

It is known in Indonesian as bunga kecombrang or honje, Malay as bunga kantan and Thai as kaalaa.

This a ginger plant found during our rainforest discovery trip SEV 01.

more info at www.borneoguide.com/ecovillage