Chamaecostus cuspidatus, common name fiery costus or spiral flag, is a species of herbaceous plant in the family Costaceae native to eastern Brazil (States of Bahia and Espírito Santo).[1][2][3] In India, it is known as insulin plant for its purported anti-diabetic properties.[4] Chamaecostus cuspidatus has large fleshy-looking leaves. The undersides of these large, smooth, dark green leaves have light purple shade. The leaves are spirally arranged around the stem, forming attractive, arching clumps arising from underground rootstocks. The maximum height of these plants is about two feet. The flowers are orange in color and are 1.5 in (3.8 cm) in diameter. Flowering occurs during the warm months and they appear to be cone-like heads at the tips of branches.[5]
| Chamaecostus cuspidatus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Zingiberales |
| Family: | Costaceae |
| Genus: | Chamaecostus |
| Species: | C. cuspidatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Chamaecostus cuspidatus (Nees & Mart.) C.Specht & D.W.Stev.
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Cultivation
editIn Siddha medicine, it is known as kostum. It is being cultivated in Kashmir and the Himalayan regions for its root. It is related to the gingers and was originally part of the family Zingiberaceae. The plant grows very quickly. Propagation is by stem cutting. It needs sunshine but it also grows in slightly shady areas. It is cultivated in India for its use in traditional medicine and elsewhere as an ornamental.
Traditional medicine
editThe dried leaves are used in Ayurvedic medicine.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ^ Specht, C. D. & D. W. Stevenson (2006). "A new phylogeny-based generic classification of Costaceae (Zingiberales)" (PDF). Taxon. 55 (1): 153–163. doi:10.2307/25065537. JSTOR 25065537. S2CID 15845981.
- ^ Tropicos, specimens of Chamaecostus cuspidatus (Nees & Mart.) C.D. Specht & D.W. Stev.
- ^ a b Shetty, Akhila (October 2010). "Effect of the insulin plant (Costus igneus) leaves on dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemia". International Journal of Ayurveda Research. 1 (2): 100–2. doi:10.4103/0974-7788.64396. PMC 2924971. PMID 20814523.
- ^ Forzza, R. C. (2010). "Lista de espécies Flora do Brasil". Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro. Archived from the original on 2015-09-06.