The genus Alpinia (Family Zingiberaceae) comprises
about 230 species, mainly tropical in distribution, which
probably originated somewhere in tropical Asia but are
now cultivated in many parts of the world1,2 Alpinia
galanga (L.) Sw. (Syn. Languas galanga (L.) Stuntz)
(greater galangal) is native to Indonesia, but has now
become naturalized in many parts of India. It is frequently
found in the sub-Himalayan region of Bihar,
West Bengal, Assam, and is extensively cultivated all
over India, mostly in shady situations.