Plant Datasheet for Costus 'Firebird'

I also received some photos recently from a contact at a nursery in South Florida who had once received the same plant from Tom Wood. When I started reviewing my own photos of the flower details I suddenly realized that this plant has the SAME BICARINATE (TWO-KEELED) BRACTEOLE as Costus osae. This character is only recorded in two species of Costus - C. osae and C. ricus. All others have a single keeled bracteole, shaped like a canoe whereas those two species have the two-keeled bracteole more like a flat bottom boat and the bracteole wraps around the calyx.

I contacted Tom Wood to find out the origin of the plant and he told me that his records only show receiving it from Fairchild Gardens, or possibly Flamingo Gardens from David Bar-Zvi (who worked both places).

Based on the bicarinate bracteole and the similarity of the vegetative parts - nearly identical to Costus osae - I have now concluded this is most likely a hybrid of C. osae with C. comosus - both of which have been cultivated in South Florida for many years. I am giving this plant a cultivar name of 'Firebird' for the red and yellow flames of the inflorescence and the wing-like bracts.

Cultivar description: A key character distinguishing this cultivar is the bicarinate bracteole like Costus osae, but with bright yellow instead of reddish flowers. This plant looks almost exactly like Costus osae until it flowers. Stems and leaves are soft and hairy, leaves light green, ligule very short, plant grows to about 1/2 meter tall. The inflorescence is entirely different having characters of Costus comosus with red triangular bracts, only lower bracts with appendages, and with yellow tubular flowers that extend well beyond the bracts.

Cultivar Registry Photo at www.gingersrus.com/Registry/Costus_Firebird.jpg

GINGERSRUS CATALOG LISTING:
This plant apparently originated in south Florida, and is believed to be a hybrid of Costus osae with (possibly) Costus comosus. It has soft felty leaves and grows to a mature height of less than 3 feet. The flowers are particularly showy, with red bracts having triangular tips pointed upright for form a base for the long tubular yellow flowers. I am giving this plant a cultivar name of 'Firebird' for the red and yellow flames of the inflorescence and the wing-like bracts.