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The Kahili ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum) belongs to Zingerberaceae (the Ginger family). It is an evergreen perennial herb that is native to he Indian sub-continent. It is also naturalized in southern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean and Hawaii. This herb grows in bushland, rainforests, forest margins, etc., and up to 2.5 m tall. The leaves are lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, and alternately arranged. The flowers are borne large clusters at the tips of the upright stems. They are mostly bright yellow with a single large bright red stamen. The fruits are capsules, split open when mature to reveal bright orange inner surfaces and bright red seeds. "Kahili" is Hawaiian, a long pole decorated at one end with a cluster of feather plumes and used as a ceremonial emblem in Hawaii.
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