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 #R3031 . (opens in new window). PLANT FAMILY: Costaceae BOTANICAL NAME: Costus comosus var. bakeri FORMAL SCIENTIFIC NAME: Costus comosus (Jacq.) Roscoe STATUS : CONTINENT: Neotropical SYNONYMS: BOTANICAL NOTES: This variety of Costus comosus was originally described and named as Costus bakeri Schumann, but Paul Maas in 1972 merged it into Costus comosus and ascribed the variety bakeri. The distribution is primarily the Pacific coastal areas in southern Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador. It occurs as noted by Maas on the wooded slopes of volcanos between 600 and 1300 meters. The plant commonly sold in the USA and displayed in many botanical gardens as "Costus barbatus" has been determined to be Costus comosus - not barbatus, and it fits best as var. bakeri. The common cultivated plant incorrectly known as "Costus barbatus" can be found on a separate page atPID 7586. This page includes photos of the wild plant from Chiapas, Mexico that is consistent with the type specimen of the former Costus bakeri. A thumbnail page showing photos of this plant can be found at http://www.gingersrus.com/images/Comosus_Chiapas I am also including on this page a Colombian form that seems to be consistent with var. bakeri. R3233 was collected in Colombia, in Antioquia near the town of Cisneros. The upper side of the leaves on this plant is somewhat scabrous, but I have only seen photos and do not know the texture of the bract appendages. It has wide bracts and an appearance the closest to any other plants found in habitat to the horticultural plant known as C. barbatus. OBSERVATION NOTES:Finca Irlanda, Chiapas., Mexico, Latitude 15.1738, Longitude -92.336, at 1000 meters elevation. Road to Morelos, Chiapas, Mexico, Latitude 15.22, Longitude -92.44, at meters elevation. Finca Chiripa, Isla de Aventura, Chiapas, Mexico, Latitude 15.16584, Longitude -92.30666, at meters elevation. |