Zingiberaceae

=Family description=
 * Perennial herbs** with rhizomes, often large-sized, usually aromatic.
 * Leaves** simple, placed in two rows, with a ligule and an open sheath; margin entire, venetion parallel; stipules absent.
 * Inflorescences** generally a terminal panicle, mostly on a leafless floral shoot.
 * Flowers** bilateral symmetric. Sepals 3, connate into a tube, persistent. Petals 3, basally connate. Fertile stamen 1, (in the cultivated genera often petaloid), the remainder are infertile stamens and connate into a large, petaloid lip (labellum). Ovary inferior, 3-locular, style 1, lying close to the stamen and embraced by the thecae, stigma 1; ovules few to many in each locule.
 * Fruit** a loculicidal capsule. Seeds arillate.

=General info=
 * Distribution** About 53 genera with c. 1200 species, widespread in (sub)tropical regions of the world, especially in Indomalaya.
 * Ecology** Mostly in forest understoreys, but some species very common in disturbed habitats.
 * Uses** Medicinal, spices, ornamentals.
 * Similar to** Maranthaceae, but these are never aromatic and have sepals more or less free.

=Treated genera=
 * Alpinia
 * Curcuma
 * Zingiber

Monocots.pdf

Alpinia sp

Curcuma sp

Curcuma flowers Perennial herbs with rhizomes, often large-sized, usually aromatic. Leaves simple, distichous, with a ligule and an open sheath; margin entire, venetion parallel; stipules absent. Inflorescences generally a terminal panicle, mostly on a leafless floral shoot. Flowers zygomorphic. Sepals 3, connate into a tube, persistent. Petals 3, basally connate. Fertile stamen 1, (in the cultivated genera often petaloid), the remainder of the androecium staminodial and connate into a large, petaloid lip (labellum). Ovary inferior, 3-locular, style 1, lying close to the stamen and embraced by the thecae, stigma 1; placentation axile, ovules few to many in each locule. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds arillate.