ZINGIBERACEAE IN ASIAN COUNTRIES Area Genera Species

Abstract: Zingiberaceae is one of the largest families of the plant kingdom. It is important natural resources that provide many useful products for food, spices, medicines, dyes, perfume and aesthetics to man. Zingiber officinale, 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 sought to reveal the bioactive compounds of the rhizome. It has been found to be effective in the treatment of thrombosis, sea sickness, migraine and rheumatism. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAMILY ZINGIBERACEAE Perennial rhizomatous herbs. Leaves simple, distichous. Inflorescence terminal on the leafy shoot or on the lateral shoot. Flower delicate, ephemeral and highly modified. All parts of the plant aromatic. Fruit a capsule. HABITATS Species of the Zingiberaceae are the ground plants of the tropical forests. They mostly grow in damp and humid shady places. They are also found infrequently in secondary forest. Some species can fully expose to the sun, and grow on high elevation. DISTRIBUTION Zingiberaceae are distributed mostly in tropical and subtropical areas. The center of distribution is in SE Asia. The greatest concentration of genera and species is in the Malesia