Herbs anyone??? (Part 5) - Aromatic Ginger

The Kaempferia Galanga Linn is also known as the Aromatic Ginger, Sand Ginger a, Pokok Cekur (Malay) or Kencur (Indonesian). The plant can be found primarily in open areas in southern China, Taiwan, Cambodia and India, but is also widely cultivated throughout Southeast Asia. The plant as a whole is used as a herb for cooking in Indonesia especially the rhizome whereas the aromatic leaves are sometimes used in some of the Malay cuisine and whereas, the young leaves are even eaten raw as salad or ulam. It is believed that by doing so, it helps to remove unwanted 'wind' from the body and helps to maintain a youthful complexion.....uummmmhh :) To use onto young children especially newborn babies, pound the washed leaves and rub or apply onto their tummy to get rid of the unwanted wind.



The rhizomes of the plant, which contains essential oils, have been used in Chinese medicine as a decoction or powder for treating indigestion, cold, pectoral and abdominal pains, headache and toothache. It is also used in Chinese cooking and medicine and is sold in Chinese groceries under the name "Sha Jiang" or "Sand Ginger."Its alcoholic maceration has also been applied as liniment for rheumatism.Kaempferia galanga has a peppery camphorous taste.


The flowers of the Kaemphferia Galanga Linn consists of a few small, soft white petals with a tinge of dark purple. Propagation is by separating the rhizomes into rich, well-drained medium under indirect sunlight.

Another closed relation of the Kaempheria Galanga Linn is the Kaempheria Pulchra 'Bronze'. The plant is also known as the Peacock Ginger or Pokok Cekur Hitam (Malay). The plant is a fast grower compared with only a small plantlet that I bought a few months ago. The main difference between the Kaempheria Galanga and the Kaempheria Pulchra is the colour of the flowers and the leaves. The leaves of the Kaempheria Pulchra is broader & harder and eventhough the size & texture of the flowers are the similar, the main difference is the colour is purplish with a tinge of white in the middle...a total reversal colour of the flower of the Kaempheria Galanga.

The most obvious problem that I noticed when having Peacock Ginger plants is that the beautiful leaves are prone to attacks by small caterpillars and grasshoppers...a good solution to distract all these tiny insects/creatures is to crush finely a clove of garlic and let boil with a litre of water, let to cool & mix with a small amount of dishwashing liquid. Pour the solution into a water sprayer and spray the affected leaves of the plants, taking note NOT to spray onto the roots.

Can't believe it! It fructify.....

When we came back from our short trip from Kuala Lumpur last August, I noticed some flowers around the tiny stem of the plant. My assumption was, perhaps due to the lack of water (been away for a week), the humid hot weather will actually trigger most plants to produce blooms. After a week, I noticed that the flowers withered and small fruits appeared. I just can't believe it that my Belimbing Buluh tree or should I still consider it a plant is actually bearing normal size fruits. Uummm, it's really unexpected from such a small plant but I will pluck them in no time to add to my sambal, vegetable dalca or acar buah that I'm planning to cook.




Why I still consider it a plant and not a tree?? The height of the plant is not even a metre tall considering it can actually reach to the height of 5 mtrs to 10 mtrs tall upon maturity. Furthermore, I bought the seedling, planted in a black polybag at the local Sunday market around 6 months ago for a mere $3 in local currency.


The Belimbing Buluh is a local favorite plant/tree and is a close relative of the Carambola or popularly known as the Starfruit. Botanically the Belimbing Buluh is known as Averrhoa Bilimbii and it is also known as the Cucumber tree, Blimbling, Tree Sorrel and many other names. Apparently it originated from the Molluccas, Indonesia and the species is mostly cultivated or found semi-wild throughout Indonesia, Phillippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & Myanmar. It is also commonly found in other Southeast Asian countries. It is considered a tropical tree, less resistant to cold if compared to the Carambola (Starfruit).

The plant is considered long-lived, can reach up to the height between 5 mtrs to 10 mtrs tall with the short trunk quickly divided into upright branches. The oblong 11 to 37 leaflets are alternately arranged in a cluster on a long stem about 30cm to 60cm long. The dark-red flowers, appearing in panicles, bloom from the trunk and oldest branches, are small and fragrant and often in great number towards the bottom of the tree. Bright-green fruits follow,5cm to 8cm in length, often in clusters and a single tree often produces hundreds and hundreds of fruits. The fruits of the Belimbii which is very sour compared to the Carambola (Starfruit) are often added onto some of the Malay cuisines such as Sambal dishes, curry dishes & others.



The fruit is traditionally used to help those suffering from high blood pressure and from high fever. For treating high blood pressure sufferers, the fruits are blended, drained to obtain just the juice and drink either in the morning or night. If prefer, sweeteners can be added to the juice since the juice by itself is bitter. The leaves are washed, hand crushed and put onto a piece of cloth which is then put or leave on the forehead to relieve high fever. In some parts of Malaysia the leaves of bilimbi are used as a treatment for venereal disease. A leaf decoction* is taken as a medicine to relieve rectal inflammation. It also seems to be effective against coughs and thrush.

Propagation is by seeds from the ripe fruits or by grafting from a strong, matured stem. This plant grows well in rich, well-drained medium (also stands limestone & sand).



**decoction - extraction by boiling, essence obtained


Since the Eid festivities is just around the corner, I've added Hari Raya songs in my playlist for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!

Spiral Ginger

The Spiral Ginger is of no-relation whatsoever to the ginger that we use for our culinary dishes. The plant is also commonly known as Red Button Ginger, Panamian Candle Ginger, Dwarf French Kiss or by any other names. Botanically, the plant is call Costus Woodsonii from the Costaceae family, sister family of the true gingers, the Zingiberaceae. Presently, there are over 90 or so species of the Costus.

I bought my one and only Spiral Ginger plant for a mere $2, then planted in a black poly bag. It have since matured and a proud distributor or another word, a mother to many plantlets that I propagated and given to friends.



The Spiral Ginger is an all year blooming plant. Native to Central America, it is an attractive small plant that can reach to the height of approximately 3ft tall (approx 1 metre). The brightly red heads that looks like cones do create a very nice contrast to the green shiny foliage on spiral stems (I guess that's where the word spiral is derived from). Flowers will emerge from between the bracts of the cone from colours of yellow to orange.


As for the green shiny leaves, they are so how pre-arranged in a spiral or alternately along the stems. In many species, even the stems is spiralled.


Propagation is by stem cuttings or plantlets that appeared from the matured dried-up flower cones onto well-drained medium. The plant is a fast grower and loves rich moist medium but not wet. To produce thick healthy plant stems,it's best to fertlise the medium once every 2 or 3 weeks. The Spiral Ginger plant prefers shade with indirect sunlight and grows well in containers.


** Ramadhan Kareem to all my Muslim guest. May this holy month of Ramadhan bring you much faith, self fulfillment with joy, happiness and solace. Ameen.

A Dumb Cane???

I am confused as anyone else, why another confused name to a nice plant? The confusion began with the common name that I discovered for these few pots of my plants with beautiful foliage. The Dumb Cane, Leopard Lily or by any other names, is a very common houseplant that has more than 30 species worldwide. It is one of the local favourite here with some having a few species in their collection. Botanically, the bold & popular plant is known as Dieffenbachia, an Araceae family and native of Caribbean, Central & South America.


The beautiful, variegated leaves of the Dumb Cane come in a variety of colours in all shades of green, light yellow to white and some with a dash of red whereas, the designs on the leaves are in a very unique pattern for each different species.

Due to its low light tolerance, easy propagation and attractive foliar variegation, the Dumb Cane has always been one of the popular choices for home decors to include as an indoor houseplant. If the leaves received too much light, they will become faded but once in a while, the plant need to be put for a few hours under a full sun in order to keep it from becoming top heavy and in need of support.




The plant is known to be poisonous especially to small children & animals if consume in a high quantity which will result in swelling of the throat tissue and constrict breathing. The sap contains a potent irritant that is painful and may cause damage if contact is made to the eyes and irritant to the skin. Matured plants do produce blooms that not as bold as the foliage.

When the plant becomes gangly and unattractive, cut-off the cane leaving about 4 inches above the soil. The stump will re-sprout and grow a new plant. The top section of the plant where the foliage is on can either be rooted in the pot containing well-drained medium or rooted in water.

Water when the soil is dry to the touch and be careful not to overwater the plants because overwatering can cause the stems to rot. On the other hand, if they don't get enough water, their leaves will get brown edges.

Mother-In-Law Tongue ??

When someone mentioned that the common name of this plant is the 'Mother-In-Law Tongue' locally known in Malay as 'Lidah Mak Mentua'(what's else, the direct translation), it really made me lost for words. These questions 'Why such a name for a beautiful plant?', 'Why Tongue?', 'Why of all persons, mother-in-law was chosen?' was playing over & over thru my mind...Aarrghh, why torturing myself for such questions, the plant is really beautiful and unique and have a presence of its own. Eversince I came to this country, I have successfully nurtured 2 pots of this plant and even propagated some and given them to friends.



From the views of some locals and friends that I have encountered, all gave a unique belief of the plant...if one's to place a pot of the Sansevieria Trifasciata , either one of the type ie. green foliage or the variegated foliage at the side of the entrance of their house, it can actually wad-off evil spirits from entering the house. It's just a belief and it's up to each individual to decide. As for me, I just love the twisted, cross-banding leaves of the plant which makes a beautiful, unique houseplant either indoors or outdoors.



Sansevieria Trifasciata as it is known botanically is one of the favourite houseplant locally because it can tolerate from irregular watering and low light level. The plant is also often used as an air filter because of its tendency to absorb certain poisonous substances.

The leaves of the plant grows vertically, twisted and cross-banding and can reach up to the height of 3 feet (approx. 1 metre). The plant also produces small frangrance white blooms which is very rare, rested on a long stem. Propagation is by means of stem cutting or to be precise, leaf cutting and by dividing the creeping rhizome in a well-drained medium.

All time local favourites

The all time local favourites in this country are the Bougainvillea & the Crown of Thorns (botanical name is the Euphorbia Milli). Almost every household here will at least have a pot of either one of these two plants at the surroundings of their home. This two types of plants are much favoured by the locals because they survive well in the tropical, humid climate of this country and of course, the colourful flowers that they produced.

Cheerful, brightly coloured Bougainvillea to greet every visitor & guest to our home. Bougainvillea actually grows well in well-drained medium & will produce more blooms when they are actually 'stressed' ie. dry, lack of water.










































Our collection of the Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia Milli), bought the first 'baby' back in 2004 and looking forward to add more varieties of different sizes of blooms in various shades of white, biege, yellow and bi-colours.