[Greek edys, sweet, and chion, snow, for the fragrant white flowers]

Pseudostems well -developed, 1--3 m. Inflorescences projecting from tip of pseudostem, dense, conelike [lax]; bracts of main axis crowded [not crowded], [2.5--]4--6[--7] cm, ovate to lanceolate [or almost circular]; cincinni sessile, [1--]2--3[--6]-flowered, enclosed in bracts; bracteoles small, inconspicuous, hidden by bracts. Flowers: calyx cylindric, 3-toothed or -lobed, split down one side [not split]; corolla tube slender, lobes linear; filament linear, tubular-incurved, enclosing style; anther long-exserted, not spurred, terminal appendage none; lateral staminodes large, petal-like, lip oblong, plane, 2-lobed. Fruits capsule, globose. x = 17.

Species ca. 50 (1 in the flora): introduced; North America, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Australia; native, Asia and Madagascar.

Lower Taxon

• Hedychium coronarium J. Konig