5 EXOTIC RED Torch Ginger PLANT seeds GREENHOUSE & INDOOR
~ ~ ~ WE OFFER BOTH PKT. & BULK SIZES ~ ~ ~ Etlingera elatior - Red torch Ginger is a beautiful houseplant or landscape plant in warm regions. Beautiful showy flowers having prominent overlapping bracts as with protea. The brilliant cone shaped flowers protrude from 4' stalks. The young buds, which have a spicy flavor, are edible. Foliage is dark green, often maroon beneath. A native of Java, Indonesia, it was brought to Suriname by immigrants and is now a common garden plant in this country. Must be watered well. Excellent for the greenhouse. Can be used in tropical cut flower arrangements. Perennial Sun Height: To 15' Zones: 9B-11 In Karo, it is known as asam cekala (asam meaning 'sour'), and the flower buds, but more importantly the ripe seed pods, which are packed with small black seeds, are an essential ingredient of the Karo version of sayur asam, and are particularly suited to cooking fresh fish. Leaves of E. elatior have the highest antioxidant, antibacterial and tyrosinase inhibition activities among five Etlingera species studied. Antioxidant properties (AOP) of leaves were significantly stronger than flowers and rhizomes. Leaves of highland populations had higher AOP values than lowland counterparts. Thermal drying of leaves led to drastic declines in AOP while freeze-dried leaves showed significant higher AOP values. Ethanolic extracts of inflorescences have antimicrobial activity and are cytotoxic to HeLa cells. Antioxidant activity of diarylheptanoids isolated from rhizomes is greater than α-tocopherol. E. elatior has an antioxidant effect against lead-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. germination Soak seeds overnight. Plant 1/2" deep in mixture of rich soil. Keep warm, moist and in bright light. Germination can be slow.