ABSTRACT
Zingiber is believed to be native to the coastal regions of India. The name Zingiber is derived from a Sanskrit term used to describe a horn-shaped object. A perennial with a thick tuberous rootstock, Zingiber has an annual shoot with simple, alternate, lanceolate leaves, and a greenish-purple flower. The rhizome is aromatic and is the source of the dried powder spice. Ginger has been naturalized in Jamaica, China, Africa, and the West Indies and is cultivated in these and other tropical countries, including Indonesia and Australia (Schulick, 1994; Govindarajan, 1982).
