CLICK HERE for a detailed botanical description and identification key for this species (opens in new window). PLANT FAMILY: Costaceae BOTANICAL NAME: Costus nitidus FORMAL SCIENTIFIC NAME: Costus nitidus Maas STATUS :Accepted CONTINENT: Neotropical SYNONYMS: BOTANICAL NOTES: This is an accepted neo-tropical Costus species described by Paul Maas in 1976. It is very similar to Costus plicatus, and is distinguished from that species by its narrower and less strongly plicate leaves. It is also noted by Maas that the leaves are shiny ("shining on both sides") and I have observed that to be true. Distribution according to Dr. Maas in Costa Rica and Panama. Go toPID 4606 to see Costus plicatus. - Holotype: collected in 1974 by Paul Maas and J. Cramer in Cartago, forested hills of RÃo Reventazón, near grounds of LICA (now CATIE), Turialba. In 2014 I completed an IUCN Red List assessment for this species and it is now classified as Endangered. My assessment rationale can be found at http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/full/56347808/0. In July and in September 2016 I visited the type locality for this species at the organization CATIE near Turrialba, Costa Rica. I found a plant, not in flower, that I believe will turn out to be the type form of Costus nitidus. R3365 collected stem cutting at CATIE, growing well as of January 2017. OBSERVATION NOTES:CATIE, Turrialba, Cartago, Costa Rica, Latitude 9.839795481, Longitude -83.7181525, at meters elevation. Reserva Hitoy Cerere, Limón Province, Costa Rica, Latitude 9.614860848, Longitude -83.12386865, at 200 meters elevation. GINGERSRUS CATALOG LISTING: Growing in large pots, it gets about 10 feet tall and flowers dependably for me. It has strong stems that do not tend to fall over like some gingers. ![]() ![]() |