Dichorisandra thyrsiflora.
Family Commelinaceae.
Known as blue ginger, this is an evergreen perennial that grows in clumps.
The mostly erect, fleshy stems are up to 1 m high.
The alternately inserted leaves are spirally arranged.
The leaf bases form closed sheaths, about 2.5 cm long, down the stem.
There are hairs on the upper margin of the sheath.
Leaves, up to 30 cm long and 13 cm wide, are green.
Inflorescences are up to 30 cm long with short side branches that hold a few flowers.
Flowers are about 2 cm across and don’t open fully.
There are 3 pale purplish sepals and 3 deep blue petals with white bases.
There are 6 stamens with 4 being shorter and having larger anthers than the other two.
The fruit capsules hold small seeds with fleshy appendages.
(Dichorisandra regie leaves, in 2 ranks, have pale stripes.)
J.F.
