Zingiberaceae · Alpinia

Bara Kulanjan / Greater Galangal

Alpinia galanga

Also known as Java Galangal, Siamese Ginger

HerbMedicinal
Habit
Herb
Found in India
Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu & more
Flowering
August-May

Plant Details

Scientific name
Alpinia galanga
Genus
Alpinia
Habit
Herb
Habitat
Widely cultivated
Habitat type
Cultivated
Distribution
Cultivated throughout SE Asia
Found in India
Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Maharashtra, Manipur
Flowering & fruiting
August-May
Conservation status
Not Evaluated (NE)

Leaf characters

Arrangement
Alternate
Simple type leaf character
Type
Simple
Entire margin leaf character
Margin
Entire
Parallel venation leaf character
Venation
Parallel

Typical of the Zingiberaceae family — a field-mark hint, not measured for this exact species.

Flower & fruit characters

Flower colour
Whiterecorded

Typical of the family

Inflorescence
Spike
Fruit
Capsule

Characters marked “recorded” are for Bara Kulanjan itself; the rest are typical of the Zingiberaceae family — flowering plants only.

Local Names

Hindi
बड़ा कुलंजन Bara kulanjan
Bengali
সুগন্ধাবচ
Tamil
Akkulati, Anaivacampu, அரத்தை, சித்தரத்தை
Telugu
Dumparaashtrakamu, దుంపరాష్ట్రము
Kannada
Dhumarasmi, ರಾನ್ನ
Malayalam
Chitta-ratta, വലിയ അരത്ത
Marathi
कोळींजन Kolinjan, Kosht-kulinjan

About Bara Kulanjan

Greater Galangal (Alpinia galanga) is a herb in the Zingiberaceae family. In India it has been recorded in Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu and 4 other states. It is widely cultivated. Flowering and fruiting run from August to May.

Uses

It is grown for parts that are eaten and long used in traditional medicine. Those medicinal uses are traditional attributions, not medical advice.

Illustration representing the Zingiberaceae family
Botanical family

Zingiberaceae

Ginger family

Bara Kulanjan belongs to the Zingiberaceae family.

The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.

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Common plant problems

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