Species information
Scientific name: Alpinia intermedia
Japanese name: アオノクマタケラン
Chinese name: 山月桃、光葉山薑
English name: Alpinia intermedia
Origin: Japan (Izu Islands, Kii Peninsula, Shikoku, Kyushu, Amami Islands, Okinawa Islands, Miyakojima, Yaeyama Islands), Taiwan, China, Philippines
Ecology and description
In June, the white flowers of this species can be seen in the forest understory. The erect, panicle-shaped inflorescences look like tiny forest sprites, and the species is very common in the forests of Yambaru. Natural hybrids sometimes form between this species and shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet); the hybrid is Alpinia × formosana.
References:
Flora of Taiwan database (Alpinia intermedia)
Kumamoto University Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Plant Database
National Museum of Nature and Science, Ryukyu Plants Database
Field photographs taken during our tours, with observation dates
