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Costus Species Botanical Description Botanical Description page for GingersRus plant database number " 3216 ".
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Costus amazonicus

Costus amazonicus (Loes.) J.F. Macbr.:



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Photo# 15033 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15034 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15035 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15036 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15037 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15038 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15039 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15040 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15041 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15042 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15043 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15044 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15045 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15046 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15047 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15048 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15049 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15050 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15051 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15052 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15053 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15054 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15055 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15056 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15057 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 15059 Specimen# R0
Costus amazonicus from SE Ecuador near Rio Nangaritza

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Photo# 15060 Specimen# R0
Costus amazonicus from SE Ecuador near Rio Nangaritza

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Photo# 15061 Specimen# R0
Costus amazonicus from SE Ecuador near Rio Nangaritza

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Photo# 15062 Specimen# R0
Costus amazonicus from SE Ecuador near Rio Nangaritza

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Photo# 15063 Specimen# R0
Costus amazonicus from SE Ecuador near Rio Nangaritza

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Photo# 15064 Specimen# R0
Costus amazonicus from SE Ecuador near Rio Nangaritza

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Photo# 15138 Specimen# R0
Photo of Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus from Dr. Paul Maas.

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Photo# 17523 Specimen# R0
Costus amazonicus subsp. krukovii, isotype at NYBG, collected in Brazil, Amazonas, Rio Madeira in 1934.

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Photo# 17524 Specimen# R0
Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus, at the National Herbarium in Quito, collected in Ecuador, Pastaza.

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Photo# 17531 Specimen# R0
Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus, terminal flowering form, Zurmi Road, Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador. Note characteristic fibrousbractmargins.

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Photo# 17532 Specimen# R0
Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus, terminal flowering form near Tundayme, Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador

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Photo# 17533 Specimen# R0
Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus, basal inflorescences (on leafless shoot) on plant near Tundayme, Ecuador. Distinguished fromC.zamoranusby the fibrous margins of the bracts.

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Photo# 17534 Specimen# R0
Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus, basal flowering along the Piuntza road, Yacuambi area, Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador

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Photo# 16236 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 16237 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 16238 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 16239 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 16240 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 16241 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 16242 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 16243 Specimen# R3077
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 16295 Specimen# R3198
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Morona-Santiago

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Photo# 16296 Specimen# R3198
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Morona-Santiago

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Photo# 16297 Specimen# R3198
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Morona-Santiago

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Photo# 16298 Specimen# R3198
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Morona-Santiago

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Photo# 17542 Specimen# R3198
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Morona-Santiago

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Photo# 16299 Specimen# R3198
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Morona-Santiago

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Photo# 17543 Specimen# R3198
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Morona-Santiago

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Photo# 16300 Specimen# R3198
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Morona-Santiago

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Photo# 17544 Specimen# R3198
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Morona-Santiago

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Photo# 16301 Specimen# R3198
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Morona-Santiago

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Photo# 16302 Specimen# R3198
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Morona-Santiago

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Photo# 17581 Specimen# R3335
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 17582 Specimen# R3335
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 17583 Specimen# R3335
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 17584 Specimen# R3335
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 17585 Specimen# R3335
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 17586 Specimen# R3335
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 17587 Specimen# R3335
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

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Photo# 17588 Specimen# R3335
CURRENTLY: Costus amazonicus subsp. amazonicus
PROPOSED: Costus amazonicus
From Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe

BOTANICAL NAME: Costus amazonicus
SUBGENUS:Costus
GROUP:2-bracts not appendaged
SECTION:I-Costus
PRIMARY SOURCE USED FOR DESCRIPTION:Maas, Flora Neotropica No. 8, 1972
SECONDARY SOURCES:
LAST UPDATED:
NOTES AND DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:Maas lists two subspecies, subsp. amazonicus and subsp. krukovii. Subsp. amazonicus may have the inflorescence on a leafy stem or separate shoot. Its corrolla lobes are puberulous and the margins of the bracts dilacerate into fibers. Subsp. krukovii has corolla lobes glabrous and bracts entire. Both subspecies are closely related to C. longebracteolatus and C. zamoranus.

The plant photos to the left were identified by others as C. amazonicus but I have doubts about them. This species has been problematic for me. I will be adding more details and photos of what I believe to be C. amazonicus soon.
NATURAL DISTRIBUTION:Rainforests from 100 to 1100 meters, in Amazonian Brazil,Ecuador and Peru
HEIGHT:1 to 3 meters
Botanical Description for this Species
For illustrations or explanation of terminology, click on the linked plant part or column header.
Descriptions used for plant identification key are shown in BOLD.
Plant PartGeneralColorHairsTextureShape LengthWidth
Rhizome

variable


0 to 0 cm0 to 0 cm
Sheath

glabrous to sparsely strigulose or villose


0 to 0 cm 10 to 23 mm
Liguleshort, 1-15 mm

variable

truncate
5 to 15 mm 0 to 0 mm
Petiole

densely ferrugineous-hirsute


0 to 20 mm 0 to 0 mm
Leaf



narrowly ovate to narrowly obovate
 15 to 44 cm 5 to 12 cm
...upper

variable




...under

variable




...base



cuneate to rounded


...apex



shortly acuminate
5 to 10 mm
Inflorescence 6-7 cm wide, Either terminal on a separate leafless shoot or on a leafy stem.



ovoid to cylindric-obtuse
4 to 16 cm 6 to 7 cm
Bract not velutinous, margins delacerating into fibers, callus 5-10 mm
 green, covered part red
exposed part glabrescent, covered strigose to glab
thick, coriaceousmargins entire or fibers
broadly ovate, obtuse
 2.5 to 5.5 cm 2.5 to 5.5 cm
Appendage none



0.0 to 0.0 cm 0.0 to 0.0 cm
Bracteole

glabrous to densely puberulous
margins entire or dilacerating into fibers
 boat shape
2.7 to 3.5 cm 0.0 to 0.0 cm
Flower




0 to 0 cm 0 to 0 cm
Calyx 10-19 mm long
glabrous to densely puberulous

lobes shallowly triangular to deltate
1.7 to 1.9 cm 0.0 to 0.0 cm
Corolla tube15-20 mm long
 yellow, orange-yellow, or yellowish white
 lobes puberulous, glabrous?

lobes narrowly obovate
8.0 to 9.0 cm 2.0 to 3.0 cm
Labellum lateral lobes striped with dark red, middle lobe with a yellow, red-margined blotch in the center
yellow w/red venation, large spreading


broadly obovate
6.0 to 9.0 cm 5.0 to 7.0 cm
Stamen apex narrowly lobed, anther 8-11 mm
reddish

narrowly elliptic
4.0 to 5.5 cm 0.7 to 1.5 cm

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