Greater galangal
Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd.
Greater galangal (Alpinia galanga) is a ginger relative with an intensely aromatic rhizome used to flavour grilled dishes and traditional remedies; its inflorescence is showy, with red capsules.
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Greater galangal — Seeds & young plantsGreater galangal — Flowers
Greater galangal — Seeds & young plants
Greater galangal — Plant
Greater galangal — Roots / tubers
Greater galangal — Seeds & young plantsGreater galangal — Seeds & young plantsGreater galangal — FlowersOverview
A herb 1–2 m tall, perennial by a thick, branching, pale-pink, strongly aromatic rhizome. Large oblong-lanceolate alternate leaves reach 20–40 cm. The terminal inflorescence has white-greenish flowers with a red-marked lip; the spherical capsule ripens orange-red with a few aromatic seeds.
The rhizome yields an essential oil with 1,8-cineole, galangin and eugenol giving a warm, pungent aroma. In Vietnamese cooking, minced galangal marinates grilled meats and fish and is the main flavour of the fermented-rice dish “riềng mẻ”. It is also used as a digestive medicine and in hair washing.
Life cycle
From seed to productRhizome set
A rhizome piece with buds set in moist soil sprouts in 2–4 weeks.
Young shoot
Young shoots rise into pseudostems bearing large leaves.
Flowering
The terminal inflorescence opens white-green with a red-marked lip; plants flower from 1–2 years.
Fruiting · harvest
Red capsules ripen; rhizomes are dug after 8–12 months by lifting side branches.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- Southeast Asia (native)32%
- Indonesia · Malaysia24%
- Vietnam18%
- India · South Asia14%
- South China · elsewhere12%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- 1,8-CineoleWarm aroma30%
- GalanginFlavonoid24%
- EugenolPungent aroma22%
- Other essential oilIn the rhizome24%
Uses
- Spice for grilled meat and fish, “riềng mẻ”; deodorises fishy smells
- Digestive medicine for stomach ache and bloating
- Hair rinse and hair care; tropical ornamental
Properties
- Rhizome
- Thick, pale pink, aromatic
- Leaf
- Large, oblong-lanceolate
- Flower
- White-green, red lip
Habitat & conservation
Native to Southeast Asia and Malesia; likes a hot, humid, wet climate and loose, humus-rich, well-drained soil in light shade; often grown around homes, herb gardens and under tree canopies.
Conservation
Not globally threatened (IUCN: Least Concern). Widely cultivated within its range; supply comes mainly from cultivation.
References
- 1Plants of the World Online — Alpinia galanga — Kew Science, 2024
- 2IUCN Red List — Alpinia galanga — IUCN, 2019
- 3Alpinia galanga: review of traditional uses and phytochemistry — J. Ethnopharmacol., 2010
- 4Hình ảnh minh hoạ lấy từ Wikimedia Commons, tôn trọng giấy phép ghi kèm — Wikimedia Commons,
- 5Nguồn ảnh: Eric Chan W.C. (CC BY-SA 3.0), Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons,
- 6Nguồn ảnh: Yercaud-elango (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons,
- 7Nguồn ảnh: Meneerke bloem (CC BY-SA 3.0), Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons,
- 8Nguồn ảnh: Susan Slater (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons,