Perennial herb , glabrous stem , leaf - alternate , simple , entire , oblong , smooth surfaced , light green when tender and dark green when mature . Petiole - reddish green and purple at margin, green bract . Globose to ovoid inflorescence , terminal spike on a leafy stem . Flower yellow in colour with red stripes . Calyx 3 , corolla 3 . Inconspicuous and not showy fruit .

English - Painted spiral ginger

Hindi - Keukand

Malayalam - insulin chedi

Tamil - inchulin chedi

Kannada - Kemou honne

* It is a folk medicine used for the treatment of diabetes mellites .

* It is able to prevent the hair turning grey .

* It has antidiuretic , antibacterial and antitumor activities (george et al. 2007)

* Its rhizomes were used for a wide range of ailments .

* It is used to treat urinary problems , venerial disease (gonorrhea) , as a diuretic and to treat kidney cancer (Adame and Adame, 2000; Johnson , 1999)