About Costus pulverulentus C.Presl
Costus pulverulentus, commonly called red cigar or spiral ginger (a name it shares with other members of its plant family), is a species of flowering plant in the family Costaceae. It is native to Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador, and has been introduced to Cuba and Florida. This species is invasive in Hawaii. A rhizomatous perennial that grows 4 to 6 ft (1.2 to 1.8 m) tall, Costus pulverulentus is typically found in wet tropical areas. It is grown as an ornamental plant, and there are multiple developed cultivars including 'Serena', 'Pink Lips', and 'Purple Passion'. Costus pulverulentus has a number of traditional medicinal uses. Ngäbe curanderos in Panama sell this plant for use by women experiencing postpartum pain. Among the Tsáchila people of Ecuador, Costus pulverulentus is traditionally macerated and applied to snakebites. In Tlanchinol, Hidalgo, Mexico, an infusion of Costus pulverulentus is prepared to treat people with kidney problems and fever.
