Costus scaber

Costus scaber
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Costaceae
Genus: Costus
Species:
C. scaber
Binomial name
Costus scaber
Ruiz & Pav.

Costus scaber is a species of plant in the Costaceae family. Its native range is Mexico to Tropical America.[1]

In Costa Rica, Costus scaber is grown in homegardens and used to treat multiple medical conditions.[2] In Trinidad, it is used as an ingredient in treating dogs for snakebite.[3]

Costus scaber has been introduced to Hawaii, the Leeward Islands, and Puerto Rico.[1][4] It has been identified as native[4] or alien[5][6] to Saint Lucia.

Costus scaber is very similar in appearance to other species of Costus, especially Costus spicatus and Costus spiralis.[7][8][9]

  1. ^ a b "Costus scaber Ruiz & Pav". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  2. ^ González-Ball, Roxana; Bermúdez-Rojas, Tania; Romero-Vargas, Marilyn; Ceuterick, Melissa (2022). "Medicinal plants cultivated in urban home gardens in Heredia, Costa Rica". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 18 (7): 7. doi:10.1186/s13002-022-00505-z. PMC 8840630. PMID 35151356.
  3. ^ Lans, Cheryl; Harper, Tisha; Georges, Karla; Bridgewater, Elmo (2001). "Medicinal and ethnoveterinary remedies of hunters in Trinidad". BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 1 (10). doi:10.1186/1472-6882-1-10. PMC 60997. PMID 11737880.
  4. ^ a b "Untitled". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  5. ^ Graveson, Roger (2009). Plant Taxonomy of Saint Lucia (PDF). FCG International Ltd. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  6. ^ Daltry, Jennifer C. (2009). Biodiversity assessment of Saint Lucia's forests, with management recommendations (PDF). FCG (Finnish Consulting Group) International Ltd. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  7. ^ Skinner, Dave (October 2008). "Costus of the Golfo Dulce Region" (PDF). Heliconia Society International Bulletin. 14 (4). Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  8. ^ Skinner, Dave. "Costus Scaber and Affinities". GingersRus. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  9. ^ Skinner, Dave. "Costus Scaber". GingersRus. Retrieved 3 August 2024.