Zingiberaceae
Terezie Linhartová
Abstract: Zingiberaceae is one of the largest families of the plant kingdom with 53 genera
and over 1200 species. The taxonomic study of the family Zingiberaceae was first studied
by Kai Larsen (1980) who proposed the key to genera of Thai Zingiberaceae. New
species have been found quite recently, for instance the genus Smithathris
( S.supraneeana and S. myanmarensis) ( Fig.5) in 1998 by Larsen ( Larsen, 1998) and
two new records from Thailand too, Alpinia Scabra (Blume) Baker and A. blepharocalyx K.
Schum. with two varieties. Classifications of the family was first proposed in 1889 and
retined by the others since that time recognize four tribes ( Globbeae, Hedychieae,
Alpinieae, and Zingibereae) based on morphological features, such as number of locules
and placentation in the ovary, development of staminodia, modifications of the fertile
anther and the rhizome–shoot-leaf orientation. New phylogenetic analyses suggest at
least some of these morphological traits are homoplasious and three of the tribes ar
paraphyletic. The African genus Siphonochilus and Bornean genus Tamijia are basal
clades. The former Alpinieae and Hedychieae for the most part are monophyletic taxa with
Globbeae and Zingibereae included within the latter. The results of these phylogenetic
investigations are used to propose a new classification of the Zinigiberaceae that
recognizes four subfamilies and four tribes: Siphonochiloideae ( Siphonochileae),
Tamijioideae ( Tamijieae), Alpinioideae
( Alpinieae, Riedelieae), and Zingiberoideae ( Zingibereae, Globbeae) (Fig.4)
Keywords: Zingiberaceae, Zingiber, Thai flora, Ginger, spices
Introduction: Zingiberaceae are pantropical (Fig.2) perennial terrestrial, rarely epiphytic,
aromatic rhizomatous herbs with simple distichous leaves. Flowers are hermaphroditic,
usually strongly zygomorphic, in determinate cymose inflorescences, and subtended by
conspicuous, spirally arranged bracts. The perianth is comprised of 2 whorls, a fused
tubular calyx, and a tubular corolla with one lobe larger than the other two. Flowers
typically have two of their stamenoids (sterile stamens) fused to form a petaloid lip, and
have only one fertile stamen. The ovary is inferior and topped by two nectaries, the stigma
is funnel-shaped. (Fig.6) Some genera yield essential oils used in the perfume industry
(Alpinia, Hedychium). Many species are important ornamental plants, spices, or medicinal
plants. Ornamental genera include the shell gingers (Alpinia), Siam or summer tulip
(Curcuma alismatifolia), Globba, ginger lily (Hedychium), Kaempferia, torch-ginger
Nicolaia, Renealmia, and ginger (Zingiber). Spices include ginger (Zingiber), galangal or
Thai ginger (Alpinia galanga and others), melegueta pepper (Aframomum melegueta),
myoga (Zingiber mioga), turmeric (Curcuma), cardamom (Amomum, Elettaria). It is
important natural resources that provide many useful products for food, spices, medicines,
dyes, perfume and aesthetics to man.
Zingiber officinale (Fig.1), for example, has been used for many years as spices and in
traditional forms of medicine to treat a variety of diseases. Recently, scientific study has
been found to be effective in the treatment of thrombosis, sea sickness, migraine and
rheumatism.
Species of the Zingiberaceae are the ground plants of the tropical forests. They mostly
grow in damp and humid shady places. they also found infrequently in secondary forest.
Some species can fully expose to the sun, and grow on high elevation.
These species are distributed mostly in tropical and subtropical areas. The center of
distribution is in South east Asia where the origine of most of the species comes from. The
greatest cencentration of genera and species is in the Malesian region
( Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea) (Fig.3)
Results:
Fig.1: Zingiber officinale
Fig.2: Distribution of the pantropic family of Zingiberaceae
Fig.4: Zingiberaceae in Asian countries
Area
World(total)
China
India
Indochina
Malesia
Nepal
The
Philippines
Thailand
Genera
Species
52
21
18
14
25
11
1500
200
120
120
650
35
15
20
103
200
Fig.3: Zingiberaceae in Asian countries
Area
World(total)
China
India
Indochina
Malesia
Nepal
The
Philippines
Thailand
Genera
Species
52
21
18
14
25
11
1500
200
120
120
650
35
15
20
103
200
Fig.4: Phylogenetic tree
Fig.5: The genus recently found – Smithathris
The flowers of Smithatris
Fig.6: Plant morphology
Conclusion: The plants from the family of Zingiberaceae have a wide range of use. They
are grown and used for the numerous reasons such as in the cosmetic industry, in
pharmacy, as decorative plants and also for the culinary needs. Nowadays, the large
investigation on the Zingiberaceae as the medicines has been carried out recently. Some
particular species should be active against some diseases, for instance cancer, asthmatic
and other breathing troubles, migraines etc. To point out those useful species, there
should be meant Curcuma longa (Turmeric), Zingiber officinale (True Ginger), Zingiber
myoga (Japanese Ginger) etc. The plants used in a culinary ingrediences or spices are
Elletaria Cardamomum, Aframomum, Zingiber myoga, Z. officinale, Curcuma longa,
Amomum subulatum, Alpinia galanga, A. zerumbet etc. The main research into this plant
family is being carried out especially in Thailand but Zingiberaceae are well known accros
the world and more and more species are found as useful for human population.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zingiberaceae
http://www.iupac.org/symposia/proceedings/phuket97/sirirugsa.html
Kress, W.J., Prince, L.M. and Williams, K.J. 2002. The phylogeny and a new
classification of the gingers ( Zingiberaceae): evidence from molecular data. American
Journal of Botany 89(11): 1682-1696
Larsen, K. 1980. Annotated key to the genera of Zingiberaceae of Thailand. Nat. Hist.
Bull. Siam Soc. 28: 151-169