Tubang usa [Hellenia speciosa (J.Koenig) S.R. Dutta] is a tropical plant native to a wide range of countries across Asia and the Pacific, including China, Taiwan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and even northern Australia. It is a proud member of the Costaceae family.
This perennial herb grows upright in clusters and is commonly found along the edges of forests, in partially open areas, old clearings, and especially near streams and moist spots. At the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve, it thrives in low to mid-elevation zones where conditions are cool and damp.
One of the plant’s most eye-catching features is its flower. It has pure white, crinkled structures that look like petals, emerging from bright red, cone-shaped bracts. However, what appears to be the petal is actually the stamen of the flower. The true petals are small and hidden inside this bell-shaped stamen, giving the flower a layered, almost secret beauty.
When mature, the plant produces bright red, capsule-like fruits that split open to release seeds. These seeds are black with a fleshy white coating (called an aril), helping them disperse. Its stem grows from a rhizome (an underground root structure), which becomes thick and tuberous with age (green when young and turning brown as it matures).
The leaves are dark green, smooth on top, and slightly hairy underneath. They are arranged in a spiral around the stem and have a leaf sheath about 4 cm long.
Tubang Usa isn’t just beautiful, it’s incredibly useful, too! Some of its uses are as follows:
- Food: In some parts of Asia, the rhizome is edible, and young stems are often fried or pickled, especially in China.
- Medicine: Traditionally, the rhizome is used to treat a wide range of conditions, including:
- Fever, rashes, asthma, bronchitis, intestinal worms, laryngitis
- Abdominal pain, dysentery, urinary infections, and even bone fractures
- Stems and leaves can be crushed or boiled into a decoction to treat fever, colds, coughs, eye and ear infections, and even snake bites.
- Pesticide: Some parts of the plant are used in natural pest control.
Come and discover the fascinating Tubang Usa, along with many other native and medicinal plant species, at the Makiling Botanic Gardens! It’s a place where science, nature, and wonder come together.
For more information, you may view this video link: Tubang usa
By: AALimpiada and ACMalayba