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The "Iriomote-kuma-takeran" (Alpinia flabellata) belongs to Zingerberaceae (the Ginger family). It is an evergreen perennial herb that is distributed from Iriomote Island in Japan's Yaeyama Islands to Lutao and Lanyu islands in Taiwan, as well as the Philippines. It grows under evergreen forests and reaches a height of 1 to 3 m. The stem is erect, and the leaves are oblong-lanceolate, 30 to 40 cm long, entire, and alternate. From around June to July, it produces a panicle at the tip of the stem, bearing small, pale yellowish-white flowers. The flowers are about 1 cm long and feature pale pink lines on a white background. The fruit is a spherical capsule that ripens to a red or orange-yellow color. In Taiwanese Chinese, it is called "呂宋月桃".
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