Compendium On Costus Pictus: A Medicinal Spiral Ginger

The present book contains morphological and anatomical features of Costus pictus (Insulin plant), which is a potential medicinal spiral ginger plant in herbal medicine. The Morphological and anatomical features of Costus speciosus is also given, as it is often confused species in material identification and a potential adulterant. Various levels of comparative studies such as nomenclatural, vegetative and reproductive parts, anatomical and histochemical, and herbarium level studies of Costus pictus and Costus speciosus are included for the correct identification of the species. Cultivation trials of Costus pictus using different rooting medium and vegetative parts is also included in the book as the package may be highly useful for widescale cultivation in future planting programs.