Torch ginger (Etlingera elatior)

Torch ginger (Etlingera elatior) is a plant species belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. It is a perennial terrestrial herb characterized by a fibrous root system and tuberous rhizomes, capable of reaching heights of up to 6 meters. The plant produces a syncarp—a type of compound fruit—consisting of red to bright red capsules. Its root system is fibrous, and it features rhizomes that give rise to pseudostems.

The leaves are simple and lanceolate in shape. They have asymmetrical bases, tapering tips, and wavy margins. Each leaf is attached by a very short petiole that forms a leaf sheath; the leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. The leaf surfaces are hairy, with an olive-green upper side and a deep, yellowish-green underside. The leaf blades measure 68–98 cm in length and 18.5–20 cm in width, while the hairy petioles are 3–3.5 cm long. The leaf venation is pinnate.

The inflorescence is a dense, head-like cluster (capitulum) that ranges from creamy-red to white in color, reaching up to 29 cm in length. The individual flowers are bright red with orange margins and are 12 cm long. The inflorescence stalk emerges from the base and varies in color from cream to dark brown. Petaloid bracts form an involucre, appearing red with white edges.

E. elatior typically thrives in humid forest ecosystems at elevations between 200 and 500 meters. It requires an environment with an average annual rainfall of 1,500–2,500 mm, daily temperatures ranging from 22.9°C to 32.5°C, and a relative humidity of 70–80%. The soil should have a pH of 5.5–6.5, a carbon content of approximately 2%, and the presence of calcareous (lime-rich) elements.

This species serves as an environmental indicator, specifically as a marker for the humidity level of a given area. The presence of this plant signifies that the area maintains an adequate level of humidity. Its presence also indicates that an area has a high lime (calcium) content, as this herb requires lime to stimulate the growth of its flowers and fruits.

This herb is widely used as a flavoring agent, a culinary ingredient, and a spice. Its flower buds, young pseudostems, inflorescences, and fruits are incorporated into various dishes, including sambal, gulai (curry), pepes (steamed dishes wrapped in banana leaves), asam laksa, nasi kerabu, nasi ulam, arsik ikan mas (spicy carp stew), sayur asam (tamarind-based vegetable soup), limbek, kari plieku, and lambai.

The rhizomes, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits are frequently used in traditional medicine to treat earaches, fevers, eye pain, stomach aches, jaundice, sore throats, rheumatism, and respiratory disorders. They also serve as detoxifying agents, help lower blood sugar levels in cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus, alleviate body odor, and act as natural antiseptics.

An extract from this plant can be used to control Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which transmit dengue hemorrhagic fever. The plant also holds commercial potential as an ingredient in cosmetics—such as skin-brightening products and anti-aging lipsticks—as well as in the production of soaps, shampoos, and perfumes. It contains a diverse range of bioactive compounds, including antioxidants, phenolics, and flavonoids.

TAXON

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Zingiberaceae
Subfamily: Alpinioideae
Tribe: Alpinieae
Genus: Etlingera Giseke in Prael. Ord. Nat. Pl.: 199 (1792)
Species: Etlingera elatior (Jack) R.M.Sm. in Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 43: 244 (1986)

HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS

Alpinia elatior Jack in Malayan Misc. 2(7): 2 (1822)
Nicolaia elatior (Jack) Horan. in Prodr. Monogr. Scitam.: 32 (1852)

HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS

Alpinia acrostachya Steud. in Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2. 1: 62 (1840)
Alpinia diracodes Loes. in H.G.A.Engler, Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed. 2. 15a: 614 (1930)
Alpinia javanica (Blume) D.Dietr. in Syn. Plant. 1: 13 (1839)
Alpinia magnifica Roscoe in Monandr. Pl. Scitam.: t. 75 (1828)
Alpinia speciosa (Blume) D.Dietr. (1839)
Amomum magnificum (Roscoe) Trimen in Hort. Zeyl.: 86 (1888)
Amomum tridentatum (Kuntze) K.Schum. in Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 27: 309 (1899)
Bojeria magnifica (Roscoe) Raf. in Fl. Tellur. 4: 50 (1838)
Cardamomum magnificum (Roscoe) Kuntze in Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 687 (1891)
Cardamomum speciosum (Blume) Kuntze (1891)
Cardamomum tridentatum Kuntze (1891)
Diracodes javanica Blume in Enum. Pl. Javae 1: 55 (1827)
Elettaria speciosa Blume in Enum. Pl. Javae: 51 (1827)
Etlingera elatior var. alba Todam & C.K.Lim in Folia Malaysiana 2: 170 (2001)
Etlingera elatior var. pileng Ongsakul & C.K.Lim in Folia Malaysiana 2: 169 (2001)
Geanthus speciosus Reinw. ex Blume in Catalogus: 29 (1823)
Hornstedtia imperialis (Lindl.) Ridl. in J. Straits Branch Roy. Asiat. Soc. 32: 148 (1899)
Nicolaia imperialis Horan. in Prodr. Monogr. Scitam.: 32 (1862)
Nicolaia intermedia Valeton in Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 3, 3: 133 (1921)
Nicolaia magnifica (Roscoe) K.Schum. ex Valeton in Bull. Inst. Bot. Buitenzorg 20: 35 (1904)
Nicolaia speciosa (Blume) Horan. (1862)
Phaeomeria imperialis Lindl. in Intr. Nat. Syst. Bot., ed. 2: 446 (1836)
Phaeomeria magnifica (Roscoe) K.Schum. in H.G.A.Engler (ed.), Pflanzenr., IV, 46(Heft 20): 262 (1904)
Phaeomeria speciosa (Blume) Koord. in Exkurs.-Fl. Java 1: 332 (1911)

PUBLICATIONS

Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & Strong, M.T. (2005). Monocotyledons and Gymnosperms of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 52: 1-415.

Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & Strong, M.T. (2012). Catalogue of seed plants of the West Indies. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 98: 1-1192.

Girmansyah, D. & al. (eds.) (2013). Flora of Bali an annotated checklist: 1-158. Herbarium Bogorensis, Indonesia.

Govaerts, R. (2001). World Checklist of Seed Plants Database in ACCESS Genera starting with letter E-F: 1-50919.

National Parks Board Singapore (2006). Vascular Plant Life Checklist Pulau Ubin www.nparks.gov.sg/nparks_cms/cms/cmsmgr/data/6/PlantChkList.xls.

Nelson Sutherland, C.H. (2008). Catálogo de las plantes vasculares de Honduras. Espermatofitas: 1-1576. SERNA/Guaymuras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Newman, M. & Sangvirotjanapat, S. (2023). Flora of Thailand 16(2): 333-747. The Forest Herbarium, Royal Forest Department.

Nurtjahya, E. & al. (2026). Flowering Plants of Bangka Island: Native and Introduced. Acta Botanica Hungarica 68: 127-156.

Plunkett, G.M., Ranker, T.A., Sam, C. & Balick, M.J. (2022). Towards a checklist of the vascular flora of Vanuatu. Candollea 77: 105-118.

Poulsen, A.D. (2007). Etlingera Giseke of Java. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 59: 145-172.

Poulsen, A.D. (2012). Etlingera of Sulawesi: 1-278. Natural History Publications (Borneo) in association with Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

Septianingrum D, Asy’Ari R, Pramulya R. (2026). Indonesia Species Profile of Etlingera elatior (Zingiberales: Zingiberaceae). SSRS INABIODIV Species Profile and Information. Vol.3: No. 0011. https://publishing.ssrs.or.id/ojs/index.php/ssrs-inabiodiv

Velayos, M., Aedo, C., Cabezas, F., de la Estrella, M., Barberá, P. & Fero, M. (eds.) (2014). Flora de Guinea Ecuatorial 11: 1-416. Consejo superior de investigaciones científicas, Real jardín botánico, Madrid.

VERNACULAR NAME

Aceh: Bungong kala, Bungongkala
Bali: Kecicang
Banyuwangi: Lucu
Chinese (simplified): 瓷玫瑰 - 火炬姜
Chinese (traditional): 火炬薑 - 瓷玫瑰
Dayak Ma'anyan: Takalu
English: Torch ginger, Indonesian tall ginger, Combrang, Ginger flower, Red ginger lily, Torch lily, Wild ginger, Porcelain rose
Finnish: Soihtuinkivääriö
French: Rose de porcelaine
German: Fackelingwer
Indonesian: Kecombrang
Italian: Zenzero torcia
Japanese: トーチジンジャー
Java: Kecombrang, Combrang, Bongkot, Cirang
Karo: Asam cekala, Cikala
Kutai: Jaong
Lampung: Kumbang sekala
Makassar: Katinbung
Malaysia: Bunga kantan, Kantan
Medan: Kincung
Minangkabau: Sambuang, Puwa kijung
Pakpak: Acem cikala
Polish: Etlingera wyniosła
Portuguese: Rosa-de-porcelana, Bastão-do-imperador
Russian: Николайя высокая - Этлингера высокая
Sasak: Sempol
Sinhala: ගොඩ ඕලු - ගොඩ නෙළුම් - සිද්ධාර්ථ Goda olu, Goda nelum, Siddartha
Slovak: Etlingera vyššia
Spanish: Flor de cera, Bastón indonesio de emperador, Boca de dragón
Sulawesi Selatan: Wulae
Sumatera Barat: Sambuang
Sumatera Utara: Kencong, Kincung, Cekala
Sunda: Honje, Onjé
Tapanuli: Bunga rias
Ternate: Petikala
Thai: ดาหลา

Aryo Bandoro
Dlium TheDlium
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dlium