Keu / Costus
Costus speciosus
Also known as Cane-Reed, Crepe-Ginger, Spiral Ginger
- Habit
- Herb
- Found in India
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh & more
- Flowering
- July-February
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Costus speciosus
- Genus
- Costus
- Family
- Costaceae
- Habit
- Herb
- Habitat
- Moist deciduous and semi-Evergreen forests, also in the plains
- Habitat type
- Forest
- Distribution
- India, Sri Lanka, Himalayas, China, Malaysia, New guinea, Taiwan, Nepal
- Found in India
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra
- Flowering & fruiting
- July-February
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Leaf characters
- Arrangement
- Alternate
Typical of the Costaceae family — a field-mark hint, not measured for this exact species.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- Whiterecorded
Typical of the family
- Inflorescence
- Spike
- Fruit
- Berry
Characters marked “recorded” are for Keu itself; the rest are typical of the Costaceae family — flowering plants only.
Local Names
- Assamese
- যম লাখুটি Jom Lakhut
- Bengali
- কেউ Keu, কেউমুক Keumuk
- Gujarati
- પેવટો Pevato
- Hindi
- केउ Keu, कुष्ठ Kushtha
- Kannada
- ನರಿ ಕಬ್ಬು Nari Kabbu, ನಾಯಿ ಕಬ್ಬು Naayi Kabbu, ಪುಷ್ಕರಮೂಲ Pushkaramula, ಪುಷ್ಕರ Pushkara, ಚಂಗಲಕೋಷ್ಟ Changalakosta, ಚಂಗಲಕೋಷ್ಠ Changalakostha, ನೀರಜ Neeraja, ಪದ್ಮಪತ್ರ Padmapatra
- Konkani
- कोशी Kosh
- Malayalam
- ആനക്കൂവ Anakkuva, ചണ്ണക്കൂവ Cannakkuva
- Manipuri
- ꯑꯣꯛꯆꯥꯛ ꯈꯣꯝꯕꯤ Okchak Khombi, ꯈꯣꯡꯕꯥꯟ ꯇꯈꯦꯂꯩ Khongban takhelei
- Marathi
- पेव Pev
- Odia
- କୁଷ୍ଠ Kushtha
- Sanskrit
- केमुक Kemuka, कुष्ठ Kustha
- Tamil
- கோஷ்டம் Kostam, வெண்கோஷ்டம் Ven-kostam
- Tangkhul
- Talaiwon, Makeiri
- Telugu
- కాశ్మీరము Kasmiramu, కిముక Kimuka, కోష్టము Koshtamu
- Nepali
- बेतलौरी Betalauri
- Mizo
- Sumbul
- Angami
- Thevobuto
About Keu
Costus (Costus speciosus) is a herb in the Costaceae family. In India it has been recorded in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh and 4 other states. It grows in moist deciduous and semi-Evergreen forests, also in the plains. Flowering and fruiting run from July to February.
Uses
In practice it is planted as an ornamental.
Costaceae
Costus Family
Keu belongs to the Costaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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