The torch ginger flower was waiting for us in the shadow of nearby palm trees
This torch ginger flower was blooming happily for Jill and I on our honeymoon. We were on the Road to Hana, and we had stopped off at the Ke'anae Arboretum. It was there that we saw such wonderful plants as breadfruit trees and rainbow eucalyptus. This flower was towards the beginning of the trail. I waited until we were on our way back to take this photo.
The flower was in the shade of some nearby palm trees by the time we came back. This allowed for the perfect lighting conditions with no shadows at all. I had never seen a flower that looked anything like this! Little did I know that in a few minutes I would take one of my favorite photos of all time out on the Ke'anae Peninsula. The photo was of a plumeria tree.
The scientific name of the torch ginger flower is Etlingera elatior. It is known by many common names beyond torch ginger: ginger flower, wild ginger, red ginger lily, combrang, Phillipine was flower, bunga kantan, porcelain rose, and more. The flower is used both for decorations as well as in food.
The torch ginger plant can grow to be 12 to 15 feet tall. It was originally native to Indonesia and Malaysia. It is named after an 18th century botanist Andreas Ernst Etlinger, and the species name comes from the Latin word elatus, meaning tall.
The torch ginger flower is used as both a decoration and a food in some cultures
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