Zingiberaceae

Ginger Family

Globba racemosa Sm.

Yellow Swan Flower

Nepali: Devee Saro

An erect plant next to the road from about 1700m up to 2000m. The Tytlers Flat and other butterflies such as Large Spotted Flat nectar on them. The graceful yellow flowers resemble dancing ladies or swans. The long leaves are typical for the Ginger family. From June through September, it blooms for a long time on the rocky shaded slopes that line the road. It is a beautiful plant to see during the monsoon. 

Hedychium thyrsiforme Sm.

Frilly White Ginger

Nepali:

A perennial herb with beautiful white flowers and long white stamen. This plant was growing in the Godavari Knowledge Park at 1600m. It tends to grow in wet areas. Flowering was from late July to August. 

Hedychium gardnerianum Sheppard ex. Ker Gwal.

Himalayan Ginger

Nepali: Sun Kewaraa, Pankhaa Phool

This is a plant in the ginger family native to the Himalayas. It is an erect perennial growing to 8 ft (2.4 m) tall with long, bright green leaves clasping the tall stems. They have fragrant pale yellow and red flowers in dense spikes above the foliage. They appear towards the end of summer. Medicinal research indicates that the plant compound, villosin, in Hedychium gardnerianum has potent cytotoxicity activity against human small-cell lung cancer cells.

Hedychium spicatum Sm.

Spiked Ginger Lily

Nepali: Seto Saro

The white-orange base of the flower is easy to see on this ginger. It is a messy-looking inflorescence found growing along the road to Phulchowki beginning from about 2250 up to 2750m. It was flowering from July through to September. The roots are used in traditional medicines.

Roscoea purpurea Sm.

Rosco's Lily

Nepali: Rasagaree, Bhuin Saro, or Kaakolee

A very common plant along the road from about 1900m to 2500m. There is even a special pollinator for this flower. It spreads via rhizomes and is a perennial herb. They are widely scattered in the area. It blooms from July through September.

This one has a special fly pollinator, Philoliche longirostris.

Cautleya spicata (Sm.) Baker

Spiked Shade Ginger or Chinese Butterfly Ginger

Nepali: Ban besaar, Gagleto, Paanee Saro

This perennial herb in the ginger family is found at elevations from 2250 up to 2780m. The flower and seed pods are very attractive. It grows in shaded areas along rocky edges. They are usually found growing in clumps and widely spaced.