Curcuma alismatifolia, also known as the Siam tulip, is native to South-East Asia. It is used as a bedding plant in tropical countries, as a pot plant throughout the world, and as a cut flower. A flowering stem of this species is reminiscent, at least at some distance, to a group of flowering tulips.
Curcuma alismatifolia flowering stems have several apical bracts, which form cup-like structures (Fig. 1). Most basal bracts are green, but the more distal ones, more numerous than the green ones, are pink in native C. alismatifolia, and in some cultivars such as cv. Chiang Mai Pink. The coloured bracts mainly determine the attractiveness of the flowering stem. Both types of bracts bear small axillary flower buds. Open flowers are small and have little colour except the, mostly blue, flag petal