Cheilocostus globosus

GENUS Cheilocostus


Cheilocostus was split out of Costus in 2006 based on the cladistic analysis of Dr. Chelsea Specht. She compared the phylogenetic relationships between species and concluded that the Asian Costus were in a separate clade closer to the genus Tapeinochilos and should be classified as a separate genus. This was supported by a number of morphological characteristics such as their tendency to branch the stems and pungent bracts. Cheilocostus species are further distinguished from Costus by having seasonally deciduous leaves (per Specht description) and a bicarinate (two keeled) bracteole as in Chamaecostus and only rarely in Costus. The stigma is a modified cup shape with a small rounded appendage, unlike the two-lobed appendage in Costus.

And of course... now that the name Cheilocostus has finally sunk in, the taxonomists have discovered an earlier name that according to the rules must replace Cheilocostus. In 2013 an article was published in Phytotaxa explaining that the type species selected for the new genus (C. speciosus) was known by an earlier name (Banksea speciosa) which in turn was based on an even earlier genus name, Hellenia, such that the new genus name of Cheilocostus must now be changed to Hellenia. If you want to read the entire convoluted story of this, CLICK HERE. Meanwhile, I am keeping these species listings under Cheilocostus until I am sure the dust is all settled and there is consensus among the taxonomists.

As recently as January 2021, the respected botanist Axel Poulsen co-authored a paper in the Edinburgh Journal of Botany (https://doi.org/10.24823/EJB.2021.337) regarding chromosome counts of Asian Costaceae in which the following statement:

  • The name Cheilocostus is superfluous because an older name is available: Hellenia Retz. This name, however, is confusing, because Hellenia Willd. nom. illeg. has been used widely for species now placed in Alpinia Roxb. in Zingiberaceae, the sister family to Costaceae. A proposal to conserve the name Cheilocostus, or at least move away from the confusing Hellenia, has therefore been initiated (Leong-Skornickova & Sida, 2016). Because a decision has yet to be made, we adhere in this publication to the use of the generic name Cheilocostus so as not to confuse the situation further or to establish the use of Hellenia.

    Cheilocostus is very much in need of further study by taxonomists as there are only a few accepted species, two of which are quite widespread and variable (C. speciosus and C. globosus) and are treated as complexes that may eventually be divided into separate species or subspecies. Further discussion of this issue will be found by following the links below.

    SHOWN IN PHOTO: Cheilocostus globosus

  • CONTINENT CURRENT NAME PROPOSED NAME STATUS DATASHEET FIELD OBSERVATIONS PHOTO PAGE

    Asian

    Cheilocostus acanthocephalus

    Hellenia acanthocephala

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus borneensis

    Hellenia borneensis

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus chrysocephalus

    Hellenia chrysocephala

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus globosus

    Hellenia globosa

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus lacerus

    Hellenia lacera

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION




    GOOGLE PHOTO ALBUM

    Asian

    Cheilocostus microcephalus

    Hellenia microcephala

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus mulus

    Hellenia mula

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus oblongus

    Hellenia oblonga

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus oligophyllus

    Hellenia oligophylla

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus sopuensis

    Hellenia sopuensis

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION




    GOOGLE PHOTO ALBUM

    Asian

    Cheilocostus speciosus

    Hellenia speciosa

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION




    GOOGLE PHOTO ALBUM

    Asian

    Cheilocostus speciosus var. dilnavaziae

    Hellenia speciosa var. dilnavaziae

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus speciosus var. formosanus

    Hellenia speciosa var. formosanus

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus speciosus var. hirsutus

    Hellenia speciosa var. hirsutus

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus speciosus var. leocalyx

    Hellenia speciosa var. leocalyx

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus sulfureus

    Hellenia sulfureus

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus tonkinensis

    Hellenia tonkinensis

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus viridis

    Hellenia viridis

    accepted

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus 'Foster Variegated'

    Hellenia speciosa 'Foster Variegated'

    registered cultivar

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus 'Pink Shadow'

    Hellenia speciosa 'Pink Shadow'

    registered cultivar

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus 'tetraploid'

    Hellenia speciosa 'tetraploid'

    registered cultivar

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus globosus 'Orange Sherbet'

    Hellenia globosa 'Orange Sherbet'

    registered cultivar

    DESCRIPTION




    GOOGLE PHOTO ALBUM

    Asian

    Cheilocostus globosus 'Peach Cobbler'

    Hellenia globosa 'Peach Cobbler'

    registered cultivar

    DESCRIPTION




    GOOGLE PHOTO ALBUM

    Asian

    Cheilocostus speciosus 'Javan Pink'

    Hellenia speciosa 'Javan Pink'

    registered cultivar

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus speciosus 'Viet Nam Lavendar'

    Hellenia speciosa 'Viet Nam Lavendar'

    registered cultivar

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus kingii

    Hellenia globosa

    synonym

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus kunstleri

    Hellenia kunstleri

    synonym

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus nepalinense

    Hellenia nepalinense

    synonym

    DESCRIPTION





    Australia

    Cheilocostus potierae

    Hellenia potierae

    synonym

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus formosanus

    Hellenia speciosa

    unknown

    DESCRIPTION







    Cheilocostus 'Tatai Culture'

    Hellenia 'Tatai Culture'

    unregistered cultivar

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus sp. Terminal Yellow

    Hellenia sp. Terminal Yellow

    unregistered cultivar

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus speciosa 'Nova'

    Hellenia speciosa 'Nova'

    unregistered cultivar

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus speciosus South African varigated form

    Hellenia speciosa South African varigated form

    unregistered cultivar

    DESCRIPTION





    Asian

    Cheilocostus speciosus variegated form

    Hellenia speciosa variegated form

    unregistered cultivar

    DESCRIPTION






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