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 Photo# 16029 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - at UGA garden, San Luis, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16030 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - at UGA garden, San Luis, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16031 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - at UGA garden, San Luis, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16032 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - at UGA garden, San Luis, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16033 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - at UGA garden, San Luis, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16034 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - at UGA garden, San Luis, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16035 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - at UGA garden, San Luis, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16036 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - at UGA garden, San Luis, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16037 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - at UGA garden, San Luis, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16038 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - at UGA garden, San Luis, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16039 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - at UGA garden, San Luis, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16040 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - at UGA garden, San Luis, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16041 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - at UGA garden, San Luis, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16042 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - at UGA garden, San Luis, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16043 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - in habitat, Rio Penas Blancas, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16044 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - in habitat, Rio Penas Blancas, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16045 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - at UGA garden, San Luis, Costa Rica |
 Photo# 16046 Accession# R3295 Costus 'Red Baron' - at UGA garden, San Luis, Costa Rica |
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PLANT FAMILY: Costaceae BOTANICAL NAME: Costus 'Red Baron' FORMAL SCIENTIFIC NAME: STATUS : CONTINENT: Neotropical SYNONYMS: BOTANICAL NOTES: This plant was found in the botanical garden at the University of Georgia Costa Rica campus at San Luis (near Monteverde). It appears to be closest to the described species Costus glaucus, but with shorter ligules and lacking the glaucus new stems that distinguish the species C. glaucus. It also has some characters of C. laevis but clearly is not that species. I asked about the origin of the plant and Lucas Ramirez told me it was collected in the Rio Penas Blancas valley on the other side of the Continental Divide. He said he had been told by indigenous people that this plant had superior medicinal qualities and to look for the darker stems. Later we crossed the Divide and went down into the valley where I saw this plant growing in the wild. Therefor it does not seem likely this is just a one-time ocurrence or natural hybrid but either a distinct species or an undescribed variety of C. glaucus or C. laevis. For now, I have decided to give this plant a new cultivar name, and if it can be successfully propagated, I believe it is worthy of cultivation in gardens, or at the least worth further study to determine its appropriate classification. Upon reflection, I have also concluded that this is the same species as a plant I found in 2006 at Pocosol in the same watershed, but had incorrectly placed it as C. aff. laevis. Whether it is a form of C. glaucus or a new undescribed species, I will leave that up to the taxonomists to ultimately decide, but for now it is Costus 'Red Baron'. Thumbnail image sheet may be found at www.gingersrus.com/images/R3295 |