Etlingera elatior (Jack) R.M.Sm., Zingiberaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate, score: 1 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Alpinia elatior Jack; Nicolaia elatior (Jack) Horan.; Phaeomeria magnifica (Roscoe) K. Schum.; Phaeomeria speciosa (Blume) Koord.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: huo ju jiang

English: torch ginger, wax flower

Hawaiian: ‘awapuhi ko‘oko‘o

Marquesan: eka, opuhi, pua vao

Tahitian: ‘awapuhi, opuhi

Habit:  herb

Description:  "A coarse herb growing in large clumps 3-6 m high; its leaves are up to 85 x 18 cm; the scape may be as much as 1.5 m tall, and the inflorescence bracts are bright red; the inner perianth segments are pink, the labellum being red with a yellow or white margin and the anther red; the fruits are green to reddish" (Smith, 1979).

"Pseudostems closely grouped, to 5 m. Ligule 2-lobed, to 1.5 cm, glabrous; petiole 3-4 cm; leaf blade lanceolate, to 80 x 18 cm, glabrous. Inflorescence surrounded by involucral bracts; peduncle raised well above ground, long, 0.8-1(-1.5) m, robust; involucral bracts red, tapering toward apex, 2-3 x ca. 1 cm, glabrous; floral bracts similar to involucral bracts but pinkish, smaller; bracteoles tubular, ca. 2 cm, deeply split on 1 side. Calyx 3-4 cm, apex 3-toothed. Corolla pink to red, sometimes white. Labellum deep red with yellow margin. Filament short, flat, whitish pubescent; anther red, longer than filament. Fruiting head greenish or reddish, globose, ca. 2.5 cm in diam. Seeds many, black." (Flora of China)

Habitat/ecology:  "Cultivated for ornament, possibly naturalized in forests at lower elevations." (Flora of China)

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "Widely distributed in Malesia, subsequently introduced into the Philippines, and now widely cultivated elsewhere" (Smith, 1979; p. 199). "Native to Indonesia, Malaysia, and S Thailand; widely cultivated and naturalized in SE Asia" (Flora of China)

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 63)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (p. 199) Vouchers cited: DA 12164, DA 16082, DA 16099
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 380)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 380)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Nicolaia elatior (W. Jack) P.F. Horaninow. Voucher cited: J. Florence 2613 (PAP) Cultivée. Ornementale commune.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawaiian Islands	introduced cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1616)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Lorence, David (year unknown) Escape from cultivation.
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced cultivated	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (p. 76) As Nicolaia elatior (Jack) Horan.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 142) Voucher cited: MacKee 34700
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 113) Cultivated?
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (p. 199) Cultivated?

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 353) Ornamental.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	uncertain if native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Possibly native.
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	uncertain if native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Possibly native.
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 40) Cultivated only

Comments:  Escaped from cultivation in Hawai‘i (Kaua‘i) per David Lorence, pers. com.

Control:  If you know of control methods for Etlingera elatior, please let us know.