Diversity and traditional utilization of Zingiberaceae in Kae Dum District, Maha Sarakham Province

Abstract

Diversity and traditional utilization of Zingiberaceae in Kae Dum District, Maha Sarakham Province is studied between October 2017 and September 2018. Fourteen species of Zingiberaceae are, namely WanMaHaSaNe (Alpinia mutica Roxb.), KhaBan (Alpinia galanga L.), KhaTaDaeng (A. siamensis K. Schum.), KraChai (Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf.), KraChiewDaeng (Curcuma angustifolia Roxb.), KhaMin (C. longa L.), KraChiewKaw (C. singularisGagnep.), WanDokThong (Elettariopsis wandokthong Picheans & Yupparach), DaLha (Etlingera elatior (Jack) R. M. Sm), DokKaoPansa (Globba schomburgii C. H. Wright), MaHaHong (Hedychium coronarium J. Koenig), Khing (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), Plai (Z. montanum (Koenig) Link ex Dietr.) and ETua (Z. zerumbet (L.) Sm.) were recognized. The utilizations of Zingiberaceae is reported six uses which are foods with spices (49.25 %), medicines (25.44 %), ornamental (9.02 %), dyes (4.89 %), rituals (7.89 %) and economic (4.14 %). The most parts of the plants utilized include rhizomes (40%), pseudostems (20%), inflorescences (20%), roots (10%) and whole plants (10%).