CLICK HERE for a detailed botanical description and identification key for this species (opens in new window). CLICK HERE to see a description of accession #R3275 . (opens in new window). PLANT FAMILY: Costaceae BOTANICAL NAME: Costus plicatus FORMAL SCIENTIFIC NAME: Costus plicatus Maas STATUS :Accepted CONTINENT: Neotropical SYNONYMS: BOTANICAL NOTES: This is an accepted neo-tropical Costus species described by Paul Maas in 1976. This species is very close to Costus nitidus, which was also described by Maas in 1976. He distinguishes the two saying C. plicatus has wider leaves which are more strongly plicate and more abruptly acuminate. Both have red, non-appendaged bracts and yellow tubular flowers. I have seen this species in the wild on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica near Rancho Quemado (Reinaldo Aquilar's finca) and in cultivation at La Gamba Research Station. Maas reports it near Rio Esquinas in Costa Rica and in Panama at Santa Fe and also on the Caribbean side where it seems it is co-located with Costus nitidus in Bocas del Toro. I question whether these two should be lumped together as they are so similar. See Costus nitidus (PID 4607) for further discussion. In 2014 I completed an IUCN Red List assessment for this species and it is now classified as Least Concern. My assessment rationale can be found at http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/full/56347879/0. OBSERVATION NOTES:Rio Boqueron, Colon, Panama, Latitude 9.432, Longitude -79.547, at meters elevation. Los Charcos de Osa, Costa Rica, Latitude 8.6719, Longitude -83.5053, at 60 meters elevation. GINGERSRUS CATALOG LISTING: Costus plicatus has very broad and beautiful plicate (pleated) leaves that shimmer n the sunlight. The plant grows to about 6-7 feet tall. The inflorescence is a red cone, much like C. nitidus, with a yellow tubular flower. Hardiness is untested but expected to be only zone 10 hardy so it must be grown indoors in winter in colder climates. |