Thumbnail Sheet for Cheilocostus Species

The genus Cheilocostus was split out from Costus in 2006 (see Reclassification of Costaceae). The accepted name of the genus in the Kew Science system has been changed from Cheilocostus to Hellenia, but a movement to conserve the name Cheilocostus has not yet been settled. Therefore, I am maintaining Cheilocostus on this website. These plants are from southeast Asia, New Guinea and tropical parts of Australia. They are distinguished by the sharp, pungent ends of the bracts and their tendency to branch along the stems.

The best known of these is Cheilocostus speciosus which is grown as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical climates world wide. Although there are only five recognized species, two of them (C. speciosus and C. globosus) are quite diverse and have long nomenclature histories, being currently lumped together from multiple species names of the past.


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Cheilocostus borneensis from Gardens Bulletin Singapore 62 (1): 143-150. 2010 - Click to see full sized image
Photo# 586 PID # 7498
Cheilocostus borneensis


Cheilocostus globosus 'Orange Sherbet' - Click to see full sized image
Photo# 588 PID # 3432
Cheilocostus globosus


Cheilocostus lacerus (origin unknown - found in Baton Rouge, LA) - Click to see full sized image
Photo# 589 PID # 4618
Cheilocostus lacerus


No Image Available - Click to see full sized image
Photo# 587 PID # 7502
Cheilocostus mulus


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Photo# 590 PID # 7396
Cheilocostus oblongatus


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Photo# 591 PID # 6153
Cheilocostus sopuensis


Cheilocostus speciosus (cultivated plant from Norfolk Bot. Garden) - Click to see full sized image
Photo# 592 PID # 3042
Cheilocostus speciosus


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Photo# 593 PID # 4619
Cheilocostus viridis