ショウガ
Orchid ginger / Alpinia intermedia Gagnep. / Aonokumatake-ran / アオノクマタケラン
和名にはラン（蘭）が付くが、ショウガ科に部類され、奄美大島では様々な場所で見られる。高さ0.5～1.5mで、葉は先が尖った長めの長方形で、毛はなく、夏には直立した茎にまとまったピンクがかかった白い花を咲かせる。果実は小さく、熟すと鮮やかな赤になる。
Shell ginger / Alpinia zerumbet / Getto / 月桃
常緑多年草であるショウガ科の月桃は、花が貝殻のような形をしていることから名付けられ、台湾から九州南部にかけて見られる。高さ3mほどになり、葉は楕円形の濃い緑で先端は尖っている。まとまって垂れ下がった赤と黄色のストライプ模様のある白い花は、春の終わりから初夏にかけて咲く。香りが良い月桃の葉は南部の島では昔から菓子餅を包むのに使われ、その他の部分は整腸剤、虫除け、染め物用等に使われ、飲料、アイスクリーム、化粧品等にも利用されている。
Gingers
Orchid ginger / Alpinia intermedia Gagnep. / Aonokumatake-ran / アオノクマタケラン
The Japanese name of this plant includes the word ran (orchid), but the shrub is actually an evergreen member of the ginger family. It is found in various locations all over Amami-Oshima. It grows to a height of 0.5 to 1.5 meters, and has long, oblong, hairless leaves with sharply pointed tips. The plant blooms in the summer with clusters of pinkish-white flowers that grow on erect stems. The fruit is a small berry that turns bright red when ripe.
Shell ginger / Alpinia zerumbet / Getto / 月桃
This perennial evergreen member of the ginger family is named for the appearance of its flowers, which resemble seashells. Varieties of shell ginger are found from Taiwan to southern Kyushu. The plants reach up to 3 meters in height, and have dark-green oblong leaves with pointed tips. The flowers, which appear in late spring to early summer, grow in clusters on drooping stems; they have white petals with bright red and yellow stripes on the inside. The fragrant leaves of the shell ginger plant have traditionally been used on Japan’s southern islands to wrap sweet rice cakes. Parts of the plant have also been used for intestinal medicine, insect repellent, and pigment, as well as in beverages, ice cream, and cosmetics.
