Zingibar spectabile (“Beehive Ginger”)
The Zingibar spectabile’s inflorescence is composed of a bract from which the tiny orchid-like flowers grow.
I do intend to paint these in my field journal, but in the meantime, sharing the photos. This plant was spotted in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
The plant has an ethnobotanical use, “Water collected from the bracts of the inflorescence is used by the Orang Aslis of the Temuan tribe (Negri Sembilan, Malaysia) to treat conjunctivitis.”
Zingiber spectabile, whole inflorescence showing bract with two flowers.
Zingiber spectabile, close-up of orchid-like flower.
