Costus afer | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Zingiberales |
Family: | Costaceae |
Genus: | Costus |
Species: | C. afer
|
Binomial name | |
Costus afer Ker Gawl.
|
Costus afer, English ginger lily or common ginger lily, is a species of plant native to Tropical Africa.[1][2]
Costus afer is widely cultivated.[3] It has many traditional uses, including but not limited to treating a range of medical ailments.[2][4] Costus afer is high in diosgenin.
Costus afer has a wide native distribution spanning North East Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, and Southern Tropical Africa.[5]
Costus afer is sometimes confused with other African species of Costus, such as Costus dubius and Costus lucanusianus.[5][3] It is also similar looking to Costus louisii.