Scotts Head Public School

Learn as you Grow

Telephone02 6569 8144

Emailscottshead-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Native Ginger (Alpinia caerulea)

A coastal sub-tropical or tropical rainforest shrub found in northern NSW and QLD.

It is an underground and creeping rhizome with erect stems up to 3 metres high.

The leaves are green but can be red on the reverse side. Leaves are on the opposite side of the stem and up to 40cm long and 3-10cm wide.

The fragrant flowers are white and attract butterflies.

Fruits are bright blue about 1cm in diameter. The pulp is pleasantly acidic. Both the fruit/berries and rhizome/root tips are edible, and the leaves wrap fish.