Alpinia elatior Jack, Malayan Misc. 2(7): 2. 1822; A. speciosa (Blume) D. Dietrich (1839), not (J. C. Wendland) K. Schumann (1893); Elettaria speciosa Blume; Nicolaia elatior (Jack) Horaninow; N. speciosa (Blume) Horaninow; Phaeomeria speciosa (Blume) Koorders.

Pseudostems closely grouped, to 5 m. Ligule 2-lobed, to 1.5 cm, glabrous; petiole 3--4 cm; leaf blade lanceolate, to 80 × 18 cm, glabrous. Inflorescence surrounded by involucral bracts; peduncle raised well above ground, long, 0.8--1(--1.5) m, robust; involucral bracts red, tapering toward apex, 2--3 × ca. 1 cm, glabrous; floral bracts similar to involucral bracts but pinkish, smaller; bracteoles tubular, ca. 2 cm, deeply split on 1 side. Calyx 3--4 cm, apex 3-toothed. Corolla pink to red, sometimes white. Labellum deep red with yellow margin. Filament short, flat, whitish pubescent; anther red, longer than filament. Fruiting head greenish or reddish, globose, ca. 2.5 cm in diam. Seeds many, black.

Cultivated for ornament, possibly naturalized in forests at lower elevations. Yunnan [native to Indonesia, Malaysia, and S Thailand; widely cultivated and naturalized in SE Asia].