Costus afer Ker Gawl.

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Photo: Stefaan Dondeyne
Below Mpunga Camp, Moribane forest

Photo: Bart Wursten
Zomba Community

Photo: Mark Hyde
Tava River, Moribane Forest

Photo: Bart Wursten
Tava River, Moribane Forest

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Synonyms:
Common names:	Twisted ginger (English)
Frequency:	Locally common
Status:	Native
Description:	Tall perennial herb. Leaves spirally arranged along the stem, oblong-oblanceolate, 15-25 cm long, dark green and hairless above, hairless below except for a line of hairs at the margin; apex acuminate. Inflorescence terminal with green, leathery, overlapping bracts. Flowers white with a pale to deep pink lip.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	Along forest margins.
Altitude range:	Up to 1200 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa.
Mozambique distribution:	MS
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Wednesday 24 April 2019
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 16. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 122. Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 163. Lock, J.M. & Diniz, M.A. (2010). Costaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(4) Pages 117 - 118. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 112.

Other sources of information about Costus afer:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Costus afer
Flora of Malawi: Costus afer
Flora of Zimbabwe: Costus afer
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Costus afer

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Costus afer
African Plant Database: Costus afer
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Costus afer
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Costus afer
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Costus afer
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Costus afer
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Costus afer
JSTOR Plant Science: Costus afer
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Costus afer
Plants of the World Online: Costus afer
Tropicos: Costus afer
Wikipedia: Costus afer