E

valuation of Costus Species and Their Use as Indoor Potted-Plants

C. Gonalves, C.E.F. Castro, J .A. Azevedo Filho and G.M. Dias-Tagliacozzo
Instituto Agronmico, Av. Baro de Itapura, 1481
Caixa Postal 28, CEP 13001-970, Campinas, SP
Brazil

Keywords: Tropical plants, plant domestication, adaptability

Abstract
Eighteen species of Costus, nine of them naturally occurring in Brazil, were
maintained during a period of 24 months. They were evaluated plant development
parameters such as: a) stem and leaves characteristics (position, hairiness,
brightness and distribution); b) flowering (plant age and duration); c) occurrence of
pest diseases; d) adaptation to drought and shade conditions; and e) plant vigor, as
an overall measure of adaptation to indoor cultivation. The species of natural
occurrence in Brazil evaluated were: C. amazonicus (Loesener) Macbride, C.
arabicus Linnaeu, C. comosus (Jacquin) Roscoe, C. cuspidatus N. E. Brown, C.
productus Schumann, C. lanceolatus O. G. Petersen, C. lasius Loesener, C. scaber
Ruiz & Pavn, C. spiralis (Jacquin) Roscoe. The other species evaluated were: C.
barbatus Suesseng., C. curvibracteatus Mass, C. erythrophyllus Loes., C. laevis Ruiz &
Pavn, C. malortianus Wendl., C. pictus D. Don., C. speciosus (Koening) Sm., C.
spicatus (Jacq.) Sw., e C. stenophyllus Standley & J.L. Williams. The result showed
that the most adapted species for indoor plant cultivation were: C. curvibracteatus,
C. amazonicus, C. erythrophyllus, C. malortianus, C. cuspidatus and C. lasius.

INTRODUCTION
The ornamental plant market, locally and internationally, is constantly looking for
the diversification of its product offerings with new or improved plant materials. Among
tropical flowering plants there is a great number of species with forms, colors and exotic
appeal, in addition to their excellent post production durability. Among tropical species
with economic importance are the Zingiberales with its families Lowiaceae, Musaceae,
Strelitziaceae, Heliconiaceae, Marantaceae, Cannaceae, Zingiberaceae and Costaceae.
Costus, from the Costaceae family, has had a positive response from initial limited
exports. The objectives of this work were the evaluation of eighteen species of Costus for
their possible use as indoor potted-plants.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Eighteen species of Costus, of which nine are naturally occurring in Brazil, were
cultivated and observed for 24 months in The Agronomic Institute (Campinas/ So Paulo
State/ Brazil). The plants were cultivated in a mixture of sand, soil and manure (1:1:1) in
50-liter plastic containers under 75% shade. Ten containers of each species were grown
and evaluated for the following parameters (tables 1 to 4):
a) Stem and leaf characteristics (position, hairiness, brightness and distribution)
b) Flowering (plant age and duration)
c) Occurrence of pests diseases
d) Adaptation to drought and shade conditions
e) Plant vigor, as an overall measure of adaptation to indoor cultivation
Evaluated species of natural occurrence in Brazil were C. amazonicus (Loesener)
Macbride, C. arabicus Linnaeu, C. comosus (J acquin) Roscoe, C. igneus N. E. Brown, C.
juruanus Schumann, C. lanceolatus O. G. Petersen, C. lasius Loesener, C. scaber Ruiz &
Pavn, and C. spiralis (J acquin) Roscoe. The other species evaluated were C. barbatus
Suesseng., C. curvibracteatus Maas, C. erythrophyllus Loes., C. laevis Ruiz & Pavn, C.
malortianus Wendl., C. pictus D. Don., C. speciosus (Koening) Sm., C. spicatus (J acq)
Sw., and C. stenophyllus Standley & J .L. Williams.
319
Proc. V
th
IS on New Flor. Crops
Eds.: A.F.C. Tombolato and G.M. Dias-Tagliacozzo
Acta Hort. 683, ISHS 2005
The evaluation criteria considered plant characteristics in addition to inflorescence
and individual flower characteristics. It requires plants not be too high, and that stems and
leaves also to be attractive. From the production standpoint, desirable traits are quickness
to flowering, uniformity of plant response to cultural manipulations, numerous flowers
per inflorescence, and long post production life. Shade resistance and drought resistance
are also important considerations.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The studied species are briefly described as following:

1) Costus erythrophyllus: Plants that grow from 0,6 to 2 meters of high, with leaves
presenting an interesting characteristic in the lamina, that is green on the top side and
often purplish on the other side. Its leaves, narrowly elliptic and cuneate at the base are
not hairy. The inflorescence is ovoid shape, from 4 to 8 centimeters of length and from
3,5 to 6 centimeters of width. The bracts and calyxes are red while the corollas are white
and the labellums are sordid-white with a yellow zone in the center and with reddish-
stripped lateral lobes.
This species is distributed in Brazil, Colombian Amazon, Peru and Ecuador and its
occurrence in Brazil is in the Acre State.
This species is used as potted plant, cut plant and also in gardens.

2) Costus curvibracteatus: Plants that grow from 1 to 3 meters of high and which leaves
are narrowly obovate. It is possible that in the part below of the leaves puberulous may be
found while in the part above it may be not possible this event. The inflorescence is ovoid
and fusiform, from 3 to 10 centimeters of length and with 2,5 to 4,5 centimeters of width.
Bracts are green in the exposed part while red in the covered part. Bracteoles are pinkish
red, calyxes pinkish red or rather with green stains, corollas snow-white, labellums white
and lateral lobes normally purple while the mid lobes have a large yellow zone in the
center of it.
This species is distributed through the Antilles, tropical regions in South America
regions such as: flow of the Amazon River , south of Brazil and the Guyana and its
occurrence in Brazil is in the Amap, Bahia, Esprito Santo, Maranho, Rondnia, Mato
Grosso, Acre, Rio de J aneiro, Santa Catarina and So Paulo States
The species is used as potted plant, also in gardens and potentially as a cut plant.

3) Costus amazonicus: Plants that grow from 1 to 3 meters high, which leaves do not
present puberulous, and are ovoid and narrowly obovate. The inflorescence can be ovoid
or cylindrical with yellow, orange-yellowish or white yellowish corollas, yellow
labellums and with dark yellow stripped lateral lobes while the mid lobes have a yellow
zone in the center with red margin in the center.
This species is distributed in Amazonic region in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and
Peru and its occurrence: in Brazil in the Amazon and Mato Grosso States.

4) Costus arabicus: Plants from 1 to 3 meters of high, the interior lamina of leaves are
glabrous and narrowly ovate and abovate as well; the upper side is glabrous too. The
inflorescence is ovoid to fusiform, acute or obtuse, from. 3 to 10 centimeters of length, of
green inflorescence with white-snow flowers, green bracts in the exposed part and red in
the covered part. The bracteoles are pinkish red and calyx may be pinkish red or slightly
green stained. The corolla is white-snow, and lobes narrowly eliptic to narrowly obovate.
The labellum is white-snow while the lateral lobes are slightly purpure; the mid lobes
have a large yellow zone in the center.
This species is distributed in the Antilles, tropical regions of South America,
especially the Guianas, the flow of the Amazon River and South Brazil, basically in wet
forests, and forested river banks, in the margins of forests and swamps.
320
In Brazil, it occurs in the States of Amap, Bahia, Esprito Santo, Maranho,
Rondnia, Mato Grosso, Acre, Rio de J aneiro, Santa Catarina and So Paulo.

5) Costus cuspidatus: Smalls plants normally up to 0,50 meters of high. Stems normally
red-purple with narrowly elliptic to obovate leaves, with inflorescence of 3 to 8 flowers,
light green bracts, light green calyx, triangular lobes, orange corolla and narrowly elliptic
obovate lobes.
This species is distributed in Soutest from Brazil, in primary forests and deep
shade and its occurrence in Brazil is in the Bahia, Esprito Santo and Rio de J aneiro
States.
It is world wide used in interiors due to the simple methods of cultivation.

6) Costus lasius: Thin plants of 2 meters of high, with narrowly elliptic leaves,
inflorescence straight or tilted, ovoid or funned-shaped; yellow and light orange bracts,
rarely with red corolla or light orange.
This species is distributed in Panama, Colombia, Peru and Brazil and its
occurrence in Brazil is in the Amazon region.

7) Costus comosus: Plants from 0,5 to 2 meters of high, wiht the possibility to reach up to
3 meters. The leaves are narrowly elliptic to obovate. The inflorescence is ovoid and
cylindrical with 6 or 10 centimeters of length. The bracts are from green to reddish to
green again, while the bracteoles and calyx are of reddish color. The corolla and the
labellum are yellow.
This species is distributed in Central America and Venezuela.

8) Costus productus: Small plants, from 0,3 to 1,5 meters high, the leaves are narrowly
elliptic, or obovate rounded shape in the base. The inflorescence is ovoid wiht 6 to 11
centimeters of length. The bracts are red and bright orange. The corolla are light yellow or
orange.
This species is distributed in the Amazon region from Brazil, Colombia and Peru.
and its occurrence in Brazil is in the Acre State.

9) Costus scaber: Thin plants that grow from 0,5 to 3 meters high, and whose leaves are
narrowlly elliptic. The inflorescence is ovoid and narrowly cilincric, wiht 4 to 10
centimeters of lenght. The bracts are red-orange to red. The bracteole and calyx are
reddish. The corollas are from orange to yellow. The lobes are narrowly obovate and the
labellum is yellow. Also the lateral lobes are spiral.
This species are wildly spread through the Antilles, Central America and Mexico.
In Brazil, it occurs in the States of: Acre, Amazon, Par, Bahia, Esprito Santo,
Pernambuco and Santa Catarina.

10) Costus spiralis: Plants in the form of leaved stems with 1 to 3, 5 meters high,
narrowly elliptic leaves, with possibility of being glabrous or densely villose in both
sides. The inflorescence is ovoid with 4 to 11 centimeters of lenght. The bracts are red
while the bracteole is red purple, as well as the calyx. The corolla are from pinkish red to
salmon pink, being yellowish in the internal part near to the apex.
This species is distributed in the tropical regions of South America, except from
the west, in wet forests, in savanna forests and places with granite.
In Brazil, it occurs in the States of:Amazonas, Cear, Gois, Mato Grosso, Minas
Gerais, Par, Paran , Pernambuco, Santa Catarina and So Paulo.

11) Costus spicatus: Plants with 1 to 2,5 meters high, with narrowly elliptic leaves,
glabrous leaves in both laminas, and florescence ovoid and cilindric, with 5 to 27
centimeters of lenght. The bracts are greenish and reddish in the covered part. The corolla
is yellow and pink while the labellum is yellow.
321
Distribution: the Antilles, Hispanic and in wet forests.
Occurrence: Republica Dominicana, Puerto Rico and Martinica.

12) Costus malortieanus: Plants with 1 meter high, obovate and elliptic leaves, globose
to cylindrical inflorescence, with 4 to 9 centimeters of height. The bracts are green in the
exposed part and reddish in the cover done. The calyx is yellowish and greenish while the
corolla is from yellowish to white and yellowish. The labellum is yellowish.
Distribution: in forests in Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
.
13) Costus pictus: Plants with 1 to 4 meters high, narrowly elliptic leaves and globose
and ovoid inflorescence, with 3 to 8 centimeters of length. The bracts are green in the
exposed part while reddish in the covered part. The corolla is yellow and red while the
labellum is yellow.
Distribution: wildly spread from Mexico to Costa Rica, in forests and along the
water courses.

14) Costus laevis: Plants with 0,5 to 6 meters high, narrowly elliptic and obovate leaves;
the superior part of the leave is glabrous and rarely puberulous while the inferior part is
rarely densely and puberuloso. The inflorescence is cylindric and ovoid with 5 to 10
centimeters of height. The bracts are green and yellowish with green stains or
occasionally red in the exposed and covered part. The corrola is yellow with white and
reddish stains.
Distribution: Central America, west part of South America, from Colombia to
Bolivia. Ocurrence: Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and
Peru.

15) Costus lanceolatus: Small plants with 0,30 to 0,50 meters high, narrowly elliptic and
obovate leaves. The inflorescence is from angular-obovoid to fusiform, with 3 to 15
centimeters of length. The bracts and bracteole are green. The corolla is red or red to
orange. The labellum is red.
Distribution: Colombia, Suriname and Brazil.
In Brazil, it occurs in the States of: Acre, Amazon, Mato Grosso and Rondnia.

16) Costus speciosus: Plants with 0,5 to 3 meters high, narrowly elliptic leaves with the
superior side glabrous and the inferior one densely puberulous. The inflorescence is ovate
with 4 to 7 centimeters of length. The bracts are reddish, while the bracteole is purple.
The calyx is from reddish to green and the corolla is white with red stains. The lebellum
is white with red stains.
Distribution: Malaysia, the Antilles, India, and the east of New Guinea.
Occurrence: Cuba, J amaica, Puerto Rico, Martinica and Trinidad.

17) Costus barbatus: Plants with 1,5 to 2,5 meters high with narrowly elliptic leaves with
the superior side glabrous and inferior slightly villose; the inflorescence from ovoid to
fusiform with 6 to 8 centimeters of length. The bracts are red and the corolla yellowish.
Distribution: Costa Rica

18) Costus stenophyllus: Plants whose attractive feature is found in the stems, that can
grown up to 2 meters. The leaves are lineal and fusiform at the base. The inflorescence is
ovate, the corolla yellow and the labellum yellow.
Distribution: widely spread in forests
Occurrence: Costa Rica, and Puntarenas forests.
The Table 5 shows the results of evaluation and adaptability to pot vases of the
Costus species.
The results on table 5 showed that the best adapted species for indoor plant
cultivation were: C. curvibracteatus, C. amazonicus, C. erythrophyllus, C. cuspidatus, C.
322
malortianus e C. lasius.
The C. erythrophyllus proved to be an excellent plant for pot vase cultivation,
except from the small number of flowers produced compared with some other species.
However, the contrast of colors between the laminas, the upside and bottom side of the
leaves, makes this plant highly attractive. Although the cultivation is rather easy, there are
some cares which may be taken in consideration as the plant requires well ventilated
places. In low relativity humidity, the leaves can show withered symptoms before drying
up.
The most remarkable points of the C. curvibracteatus are the easiness of sprouts,
the perfect size of the plant ideal for pot vases, the great number of flowers produced and
the high resistance to shade. It is a species that requires high relative humidity.
Without a doubt, what makes the C. amazonicus highly attractive, for ornament
purposes, is its varied foliage, which is an important characteristic for ornamental plants.
Their inflorescences are little attractive, as a result, they are not used as cut flowers.
The C. cuspidatus has, as main features, its ideal height for pot vase cultivation,
the green tints in the foliage and the high contrast between the colors of the flowers and
the inflorescence.
The C. lasius has, as the most attractive feature, unnumbered small gold yellow
inflorescences and slightly spiral stems, characteristics which give lightness to the
combination plant-vase.
The main features of adaptability of the C. malortianus as pot vase plants are the
size of the leaves that in full development cover the pot where they are planted, and the
hairy of the leaves, which give to the plant a slightly brightness. This plant requires a
considerably quantity of water, and the smallest reduction of the liquid leads to the
immediate withered of the plant.
The C. stenophyllus and the C. pictus have as main attractive features the designs
in the vegetative stems. However, they are plants that grow considerably which makes
them inadequate for the cultivation in pot vases.
For the cultivation of the Costus it must be taken special care and attention, as
plagues and diseases, specially lice, bedbug and fungus, being these last ones highly
reproductive in high temperatures, high relative humidity and intense shade.

CONCLUSIONS
1. Some species of the genre Costus can be cultivated with success as pot vase plants.
2. The most adapted species for indoor plant cultivation were: C. curvibracteatus, C.
amazonicus, C. erythrophyllus, C. malortianus, C. cuspidatus and C. lasius.
3. The most important characteristics considered for the use of the species Costus as pot
vase plants are the height of the plant, the filling up of the vase, the foliage and the
resistance to shade.

Literature Cited
Koechlin, J . Flore du Cameroun. 4. Scitaminales: Musaces, Strlitziaces, Zingibraces,
Cannaces, Marantaces. Musum National DHistorie Naturelle, Paris. 1965. 162 p.
Koechlin, J . Flore du Gabon. n 9. Scitaminales: Musaces, Strlitziaces, Zingibraces,
Cannaces, Marantaces. Musum National DHistorie Naturelle, Paris. 1964. 173 p.
Maas, P.J .M. Flora Neotropica. Monograph n 8. Costoideae (Zingiberaceae). New York.
8: 1-139. 1972.
Maas, P.J .M. Flora Neotropica. Costoideae (Zingiberaceae). Additions to Flora
Neotropica Monograph n 8. New York. 18: 163-213. 1976.
Maas, P.J .M. and H. Maas. Notes on New World Zingiberaceae: IV. Some new species of
Costus & Renealmia. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. 46(3): 307-
320. 1990.
Maas, P.J .M. and H. Maas-Van de Kamer. Two new species of Costus (Costaceae) from
Costa Rica. Britonia 49(20): 274-279. 1997.

323

Tables


Table 1. Development of Plant.

High (m) Point Tillering Point Pot fulfillment Point
0,2 to 1,4 4 0 to 3 sprout 0 0 to 25 % 1
1,4 to 2,4 2 4 to 8 sprout 1 26 to 50 % 2
>2,4 0 >8 sprout 2 51 to 75 % 3
76 to 100% 4


Table 2. Foliage.

Complex stem\leaf Point Bright Point Pliancy Point
Not attractive 0 Bright less 0 Not attractive 0
Moderate attractive 1 Low bright 1 Moderate attractive 1
Attractive 2 Bright 2 Attractive 2
Very attractive 3 Very bright 3 Very attractive 3
Very much attractive 4 Very much bright 4 Very much attractive 4


Table 3. Blom.

1
st
Flower Point N
o
Flowers Point Whole Point
0 to 12 month 2 0 0 Not attractive 0
12 to 24 month 1 1 to 5 1 Moderate attractive 1
>24 month 0 6 to 10 2 Attractive 3
11 to 15 3 Very attractive 4
>15 4 Very much attractive 5


Table 4. Others Characteristics.

Shade Resistance
(plant quality)
Point
Shade Resistance
(sprouting)
Point
Pests and Diseases
(occurrence/ area)
Point
Bad 0 Without sprout 0 0% 10
Regular 1 1 to 3 1 1 to 20 % 5
Good 2 >3 2 21 o 40% 2
Excellent 3 >41% 0

Drought resistance
(plant quality)
Point
Drought resistance
(wilting)
Point
Easy Plant
Conduction
Point
Bad 0 Evident signs of wilt 0 Bad 1
Regular 1 Little signs of wilt 1 Regular 2
Good 2 Without signs of wilt 1 Good 3
Excellent 3 Excellent 4
324
Table 5. Given scores to the Evaluated Parameters.

Foliage Bloom Other characteristics
Species
Height
(m)
Tillering
Pot
fulfillment
Stem/
leaf
Bright Pliancy
1st
flower
N
flowers
Whole
Shade
resistance
quality
Shade
resistance
sprout
Drought
resistance
quality
Drought
resistance
wilting
Pests/
Diseases
Easy plant
conduction
Total
C. erythrophyllus 2 2 4 4 4 2 2 3 5 3 2 2 1 5 4 45
C. curvibracteatus 2 2 4 3 3 2 2 4 5 3 2 2 1 5 4 44
C. cuspidatus 4 2 4 3 3 1 2 4 5 2 2 2 1 5 4 44
C. lasius 4 2 4 4 4 1 2 4 5 2 2 2 1 5 2 44
C. malortianus 4 2 4 4 1 2 2 2 5 3 2 1 0 5 4 41
C. amazonicus 2 2 4 4 2 1 2 2 5 3 2 1 0 5 4 39
C. spicatus 2 2 4 2 2 2 2 4 3 2 2 2 1 5 3 38
C. stenophyllus 2 2 4 4 1 2 2 4 3 2 1 1 0 5 4 37
C. barbatus 2 2 2 2 4 2 2 2 3 2 1 2 1 5 3 35
C. pictus 0 2 3 3 3 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 0 5 3 35
C. productus 4 2 4 2 1 1 2 3 3 2 2 1 0 5 2 34
C. lanceolatus 4 1 3 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 5 2 30
C. spiralis 0 2 3 1 2 1 2 2 3 3 2 1 1 5 2 30
C. speciosus 0 1 3 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 0 5 3 26
C. comosus 2 1 2 0 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 5 2 24
C. scaber 0 1 2 0 2 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 0 5 2 22
C. arabicus 0 1 3 0 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 21
C. laevis 0 0 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 0 2 1 17

325