Elizabeth Armentrout
Dec. 5, 2014
EVR 4930-006
L. Walker
Order Zingiberales
The monocot plant order, Zingiberales, contains eight plant families: Cannaceae,
Costaceae, Heliconiaceae, Lowiaceae, Marantaceae, Musaceae, Strelitziaceae, and
Zingiberaceae. These families contain 92 genera and more than 2,100 species. The species
within this order are thought to have evolved around 80 million years ago, during the Late
Cretaceous period, along with the species within order Commelinales. Members of the order
Zingiberales are native to tropical Asia, but today they are widely distributed throughout the
tropics. Several species are of significant economic importance, including bananas, abaca,
arrowroot, and ginger.
There are several characteristics common among members of the order Zingiberales. In
many cases, the branches originate from short or underground rhizomes and develop large
leaves above the surface. They may grow to be very large. Most have little or no woody tissues
and are considered herbaceous perennials. For this reason, they are common shade plants in
evergreen tropical regions, as well as ornamentals in mild temperate regions. The species are
remarkably varied, especially considering that the stems do not develop secondary vascular
tissue, which restricts growth. Most species may reproduce vegetatively when separated from
the parent plant. This may be beneficial for agricultural purposes, in order to ensure the
continuation of favorable genetic traits.
The plants in the order Zingiberales typically have flowers with three distinct sepals,
three petals, and three carpels. They may have up to six stamens in whorls of three, some of
which may be sterile structures. The ovary is enclosed and inferior. The calyx differs in size and
shape from the corolla. The flowers are zygomorphic in most cases, but some are asymmetric.
They may exhibit one functional stamen accompanied by two staminodes forming the
conspicuous part of the flower.
There are three monophyletic families within Zingiberales – Cannaceae, Heliconiaceae,
and Lowiaceae. Additionally, the families Costaceae, Heliconiaceae, and Lowiaceae are
generally valued primarily for horticultural purposes. The family Cannaceae contains one genus,
Canna, and 19 species. It is known for the species Canna edulis and Canna indica which, along
with other species of the genus, contain edible, starchy, tuberous rhizomes. Many species are
notable for large, showy flowers. The family Heliconiaceae contains one genus, Heliconia, but
198 species. Most species are indigenous to the tropical Americas and the western Pacific. The
family Lowiaceae contains one genus, Orchidantha, which accepts 17 species. These plants are
native to southern China and Borneo. The species are known for their flowers which display
modified a labellum, resembling orchids. The family Costaceae contains seven genera and
about 100 species, mostly in the genus Costus. Unlike other species in the order Zingiberales,
these plants’ flowers possess five staminodes, rather than two.
The family Marantaceae contains 29 genera and 627 species, including several
commercial species such as Maranta arundinacea and Maranta leuconeura. M. arundinacea, or
arrowroot, is used in certain diets and baking, utilizing the starch of the rhizomes. These plants
are common especially in the West Indies, where they are dietary staples.
The “birds of prey” family Strelitziaceae contains three genera – Strelitzia, Ravenala, and
Phenokospermum – and 7 species; 5 of these species are members of genus Strelitzia. These
genera are native to Africa, Madagascar, and South America, respectively. Ravenala
madagascariensis and Phenakospermum guyannenes, the only members of their genera, are
valued for ornamental landscaping. Ravenala is a dominant representative in the forests of
Madagascar, and the sheath of distinctive leaves typically grow in a north-south orientation.
Members of Strelitzia are prized for their highly colorful flowers which resemble birds of the
family Paradisaeidae, by which they are thought to be pollinated. The most notable among
these is Strelitzia reginae, the bird of paradise flower.
The “banana” family Musaceae contains only two genera, Musa and Ensete, and 95
species, but it is especially significant for the species of bananas, plantains, and abaca. Musa
textilis is inedible, but produces a strong fiber in the leaf stalks, called abaca, used to make rope
and twine. Species such as Musa paradisiaca and hybrids produce edible fruits in the form of
bananas and plantains which are dietary staples in several cultures around the globe. This
provides significant economic growth for tropical areas where the fruit may be farmed. The
vegetative stem in subterranean, but the structure of the leaves provides the illusion of a tree
trunk, leading many to call the plant a “banana tree”. The leaves overlap, with each successive
leaf growing from within the sheath of older leaves, a feature common in monocots.
The largest family of order Zingiberales is Zingiberaceae, which contains about 52
genera and more than 1,300 species. Easily the largest family within the order, Zingiberaceae
contains plants such as turmeric, ginger, galangal, and cardamom. They are found in many
tropical ecosystems throughout Asia, Africa, and the Americas, with the greatest biodiversity
exhibited in Southeast Asia. Most species are herbaceous with distichous leaves and basal
leaves overlapping in a sheath to form a pseudostem, as with the banana species. They may be
epiphytic or self-supporting with hermaphroditic, strongly zygomorphic flowers. They possess
one fertile stamen and two staminodes that often form a petaloid lip. Unlike other members of
order Zingiberales, members of Zingiberaceae possess a tubular calyx with small free lobes. The
inferior ovary is accompanied by two nectaries and a funnel shaped stigma. Plants in this family
are highly prized for their rhizomes, essential oils, and aromatic leaves and flowers. They are
highly utilized as spices, perfumes, dyes, condiments, ornamentals, and medicines. The genus
Zingiber contains the “true gingers” such as Zingiber oficinale, which are valued for culinary and
medicinal purposes. The genera Curcuma, Amonum, and Elettaria contain turmeric and
common cardamom spices as well as ornamental species. The “ginger-lilies” of genera Alpinia
and Hedychium are valued especially for perfumes and fragrances.
In Florida, several species of Zingiberales have been introduced and naturalized. Sixteen
species of the order, representing six of the eight families, may be found. According to the Atlas
of Florida Vascular Plants, there have been no documented species of the families Lowiaceae or
Strelitziaceae in the state. From the family Costaceae, Costus pulverulentus (spiral ginger) is the
only species present in Florida. From the family Heliconiaceae, Heliconia latispatha (expanded
lobsterclaw) is the only species in Florida. From the family Marantaceae, Maranta geniculateI
(arrowroot) and Maranta arunidnacea (alligatorflag; fireflag) are represented. These are prized
primarily by horticulturists for their colorful inflorescences. From the family Musaceae, Musa
acuminate (dwarf banana) and Musa x paradisiaca (common banana) are represented. They
are common ornamental landscape species.
From the family Cannaceae, Canna flaccida (bandanna of the everglades), Canna x
generalis (garden canna), Canna indica (indian shot), and Canna glauca (maraca amarilla) are
present in Florida. These species are primarily valued as ornamentals, but Canna indica may be
used to treat industrial wastewaters in wetlands in order to remove high organic load, color,
and chlorinated organic compounds. From the family Zingiberaceae, six species from six genera
are present: Alpinia zerumbet (shellflower; shell ginger), Curcuma picta (zedoary), Globba
schomburgkii (dancing ladies; dancing girls), Hedychium coronarium (white gingerlily),
Kaempferia pulchra (peacock ginger), and Zingiber zerumbet (bitter ginger). These species are
often grown as ornamentals, fragrances, or spices.
The order Zingiberales contains many valuable species grown in tropical and subtropical
areas across the globe. These species contribute significantly to the cultures, diets, and
economies in various areas. Several species of Zingiberales are used as spices, foods, tools,
medicines, dyes, and perfumes. In Florida, Canna indica has proven to be useful in treating
industrial wastewaters, especially in wetlands – a significant aid in Florida wetland restoration.
However, most species of Zingiberales found in Florida are prized primarily by horticulturists
and landscapers.
References
“Cannaceae (plant family)” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Web.
“Costaceae (plant family)” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Web.
“Heliconiaceae (plant family)” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Web.
Holttum, Richard E. "Zingiberales (plant order)." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia
Britannica, Inc. Web.
“Lowiaceae (plant family)” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Web.
“Marantaceae (plant family)” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Web.
“Musaceae (plant family)” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Web.
“Strelitziaceae (plant family)” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Web.
“Zingiberaceae (plant family)” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Web.
Lopez, Ida, and Ellen Farr. “Families in the Zingiberales.” Department of Botany, Smithsonian
Institution. Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Web.
Lopez, Ida, and Ellen Farr. "Zingiberales Research." Department of Botany, Smithsonian
Institution. Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Web.