SafePlants

Lesser Galangal (Alpinia officinarum)

Lesser galangal, scientifically known as Alpinia officinarum, is a fascinating plant belonging to the ginger family. This rhizome is prized for its culinary and medicinal uses, particularly in Southeast Asian cuisine.

Considerations for Pets

• The plant has fibrous rhizomes.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Alpinia officinarum
• Common Names: Lesser galangal, galanga, galingale, gargaut, India root, east India root, east India catarrh root, China root, Chinese keys, colic root, Galangal Root
• Family: Ginger family (Zingiberaceae)
• Synonyms: Galanga, China Root, India Root, East India Catarrh Root, Rhizoma Galangae, Gargaut, Colic Root, Kaempferia Galanga. Some sources also list Languas officinarum as a synonym or alternative scientific name.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to China, specifically originating from Hainan Island in the South China Sea.
• Cultivated in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Southwest India, and the eastern Himalayas.

Morphological Characteristics

• A perennial plant growing several feet high.
• Possesses long leaves and reddish-white flowers arranged in pyramidal racemes.
• Characterized by a rhizome that resembles a smaller version of ginger. The rhizome is fibrous with white flesh.

Traditional Uses

• The rhizome has been traditionally used medicinally and as a flavoring agent.
• In Chinese herbal medicine, it is known as 'Gao Liang Jiang' and is used to warm the interior and expel cold.
• It is considered antispasmodic and antibacterial by some herbalists.

Quirky Facts

• Despite its name, lesser galangal is described as having a more pungent and peppery flavor than greater galangal (Alpinia galanga).

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Research suggests lesser galangal extracts may possess antiproliferative activities, similar to turmeric and ginger.

Further Information

• Kasma's blog (Galangka – Kah) contains information on Lesser Galangal (Gkrachai).