CLICK HERE for a detailed botanical description and identification key for this species (opens in new window). PLANT FAMILY: Costaceae BOTANICAL NAME: Costus longebracteolatus FORMAL SCIENTIFIC NAME: Costus longebracteolatus Maas STATUS :Accepted CONTINENT: Neotropical SYNONYMS: BOTANICAL NOTES: This is an accepted neo-tropical Costus species described by Paul Maas in 1972. Note that on the PlantList.org and several other species lists, this species is misspelled with an "I" (longibracteolatus) instead of an "e" but I have checked the 1972 monograph where Paul Maas named and described this as a new species and also have seen a 1997 determination in a herbarium specimen in Quito, Ecuador where Dr. Maas' handwritten notation spelled it with an "e". Costus longebracteolatus is described as a basal flowering species growing to 2-6 meters tall with strigose to hirsute stems and ligule 10-30 mm long. There is no mention of the purplish coloration to the leaves as is found on the most commonly cultivated specimens known as 'Long Kiss' or as 'Kiss of Death'. The bracts are described as green on the exposed part, red covered part, non-appendaged but having the apex slightly curved outwards. The species is especially characterized having a very long bracteole (32-42 mm - thus, the species name) and calyx (17-22 mm). In 1972 he did not have a good description of the flower but in 1977 he described it as being an open labellum type, white with wine-red venation on the outer lobes. The type was from Macas, Ecuador and the distribution range includes southeastern Ecuador and Amazonian Colombia and Peru. R3062 from Jim West in Ecuador (did not survive), R3126 from seeds collected in Peru, Quebrada Cayapoza off Rio Napo, lost here but distributed and presumed still living at Lyon Arboretum, Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, John Mood's garden and several others in Puerto Rico. OBSERVATION NOTES:trail off Quebrada Cayapoza, Maynas Province, Peru, Latitude -3.429, Longitude -73.159, at 100 meters elevation. San Pedro de Mangua, Maynas Province, Peru, Latitude -3.308, Longitude -72.807, at 110 meters elevation. San Pedro de Manguas, Maynas Province, Peru, Latitude -3.3, Longitude -72.8, at 110 meters elevation. GINGERSRUS CATALOG LISTING: ![]() ![]() |