Hedychium coronarium
in A. J. Retzius,Observ. Bot. 3: 73–74. 1783.
Illustrator:
Copyright:
Leaf blades oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic, 28–48 × 4–7 cm. Inflorescences erect, 15–19 × 12–17 cm; bracts of main axis green; proximal bracts ovate, concave, 4–5.5 × 2–4.5 cm, apex obtuse or apiculate; distal bracts lance-oblong or ovate, 4–6 × 1–2.5 cm, apex rounded or apiculate. Flowers: perianth and staminodes white.
Phenology: Flowering summer–fall (Jun–Oct).
Habitat: Swamps, shores of lakes and streams
Elevation: 0–50 m
Distribution
Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Australia, native, Asia, Australia.
Discussion
The flowers of Hedychium coronarium are very fragrant. Naturalized populations have been reported several times from southern Louisiana, but the specimens I have seen are sterile and cannot be identified with certainty. There is also an old report from near Brunswick, Georgia (J. K. Small 1933, unpublished ms.), but I have seen no specimens from the state.
Selected References
None.