Roscoea capitata

Native to central Nepal, where it is confined to a small area north-west of Kathmandu. It grows at 1,200–2,600 m above sea level.

Roscoea capitata (Image: Richard Wilford)

Roscoea capitata has tuberous roots which emerge from a fleshy rhizome. The pseudostems (formed of sheathing leaves) are up to 45 cm tall. There are 3–9 leaves, which are soft and fleshy, curving and somewhat wavy, bright green and smooth or with a fringe of hairs along the margin. The bracts are narrowly ovate and are crowded into a short head. The flowers are magenta, purple, mauve, pink or white. The floral tube is about 3.5 cm long and is mostly hidden by the bract. The dorsal petal is elliptic to ovate and about 1 cm wide. The lateral petals are shorter and narrower. The lip is three-lobed and the central lobe is obovate, up to 2 cm wide, with a notched apex. The stamens have white, pointed appendages.

Roscoea capitata is cultivated as an ornamental. Some species of Roscoea are used medicinally in China. Roscoea purpurea, from the Himalaya, is used in veterinary medicine in Nepal and its rhizomes are edible after boiling.

Roscoea capitata can be seen growing in the Rock Garden at Kew, and is sometimes also displayed in the Davies Alpine House during mid-summer.

Pressed and dried and alcohol-preserved specimens of Roscoea capitata are held in Kew’s Herbarium, where they are available to researchers from around the world, by appointment. The details of some of these, including images, can be seen on-line in the Herbarium Catalogue.

Search Kew's databases for more information on this species

Flora of China – Roscoea capitata

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