The plants of the Zingiberaceae family are used on all continents, mainly in the tropical-equatorial regions, for their odoriferous properties, cooking (spices) and medicinal plants, which are shared to varying degrees by all genres
The best known, Zingiber, Curcuma, Hydechium, from Eurasia but subspontaneous or cultivated throughout the world even for purely American genres (Costus, Renealmia).
They also include types Kaemferia, Alpinia, Ammomum, Boesenbergia.
These are generally large weeds, perennial from a rhizome, preferring damp locations
