Zingiberales Collection

Urania speciosa; Palm
Watercolour from the John Reeves Collection; c.1820s Date: 1820

Illustration, Maranta leuconeura Erythroneura, Herringbone Plant, oblong green leaves veined with red

Strelitzia sp
Watercolour by Ralph Stennett, 1805. Held in the Botany Library at the Natural History Museum, London

Purple-throated hummingbirds, male
In a fascinating example of sexual dimorphism and plant-animal relationships: the male hummingbird with a larger body and short

Amomum, vochya, callisia, tapanhuacanga, portlandia, fransin
Autograph letter to Sir J. Banks, consisting of descriptions, with water colour drawings of genera of Plants collected in Minas Geraes, Brazil Vandelli, Domenico, 1732-1816. Page one of sixteen pages

Eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) waiting on Heliconia flower (Heliconia lankasteri) to ambush hummingbird prey, Golden colour morph La Selva, Costa Rica

Rufous-tailed hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) territorial fighting around Heliconia flower (Heliconia latispatha) La Selva, Costa Rica

Prayer plant (Calathea plowmanii) close up of leaf, TU Delft Botanical Garden, Netherlands, August

Majestic prayer plant (Calathea majestica) close up of leaf. Occurs in South America. TU Delft Botanical Garden, Netherlands, August

Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) close up with Ant (Formicidae) Tenerife, Canary Islands

Rufous-tailed hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) feeding from Heliconia flower (Heliconia champneiana) La Selva Field Station, Costa Rica

Hairy banana (Musa velutina), self peeling exposing flesh to aid seed dispersal by birds. In glasshouse. Surrey, England, UK

Bird of paradise / Crane flower (Strelitzia reginae). Cultivated in garden. Native to South Africa

Leaf-nosed bat (Phyllostomidae sp) flying towards Banana (Musa sp) flower to feed. Costa Rica

Green-crowned brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula), three feeding on Lobster-claw (Heliconia sp) flower in rain. Costa Rica

Green-crowned brillian-t hummingbird (Heliodoxa jacula) visiting Torch ginger flower (Etlingera elatior), Poas Volcano National Park Costa Rica

Travellers palm (Ravenala madagascariensis) clos up, Costa Rica

Chocoan parrot snake (Leptophis bocourti) on heliconia flower with fly in background, Sarapiqui, Heredia, Costa Rica

Hairy banana (Musa velutina) flowering in glasshouse, Kew Gardens, London, UK. Native to Himalayas

Prayer plant (Calathea plowmanii) close up of leaf, TU Delft Botanical Garden, Netherlands, August

Close up of Calathea bachemiana leaf. Occurs in Brazil. TU Delft Botanical Garden, Netherlands, August

Rufous-tailed hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) feeding from Heliconia flower (Heliconia champneiana) La Selva Field Station, Costa Rica

Territorial Rufous-tailed hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) guarding Heliconia in bloom (Heliconia champneiana) La Selva Station, Costa Rica

Green-crowned brillian hummingbird (Heliodoxa jacula) visiting Torch ginger (Etlingera elatior), Poas Volcano National Park Costa Rica

Elettaria cardamomum, Cardamon plant

Zingiber officinale, ginger

Strelitzia reginae, bird of paradise flower
Watercolour on card, 1880-1913 by Emily J. Balston (nee Whitehead) (1848-1914). Held in the Library and Archives

Purple-throated hummingbirds, female
In a fascinating example of sexual dimorphism and plant-animal relationships: the female hummingbird with a smaller body and long

Canna Lily
Engraving illustration of a Canna Lily

Wild Cane -Costus scaber-

A young bunch of bananas

ginger (Zingiber officinale), artwork C016 / 6130
Ginger (Zingiber officinale). Plate 909 from the John Reeves Collection of Botanical Drawings from Canton, China. Held in the Botany Library at the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Musa x paradisiaca L. banana
A drawing by Paul Hermann from the collection of five volumes of specimens and drawings from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) 1672-1677. (Vol. 5 Page 299)

Musa coccinea, scarlet banana
Plate 913 from the John Reeves Collection of Botanical Drawings from Canton, China. Held in the Botany Library at the Natural History Museum, London

Phrymium sp
Plate 915 from the John Reeves Collection of Botanical Drawings from Canton, China. Held in the Botany Library at the Natural History Museum, London

Strelitzia reginae, Queen plant
Illustration from The Temple of Flora (1812) by Dr Robert John Thornton (1768-1837)

Amomum zingiber Linn. ginger
Illustration from the Botany Library Plate Collection held at the Natural History Museum, London

Zingiber sylvestre & Z. angustifolium, ginger
Illustration from the Botany Library Plate Collection held at the Natural History Museum, London

Curcuma sp. turmeric
A photograph of one of the decorative ceiling panels from the roof of the Natural History Museums Central Hall. Showing Curcuma sp. turmeric from Asia

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Zingiberales, also known as the ginger order, is a fascinating group of plants that encompasses a wide variety of species. From the striking Urania speciosa palm with its vibrant green leaves to the Maranta leuconeura Erythroneura, commonly known as the Herringbone Plant, these illustrations showcase the beauty and diversity within this order. One cannot help but be captivated by the oblong green leaves veined with red on the Herringbone Plant. Its intricate patterns make it a true marvel of nature. Similarly, Strelitzia sp, or Bird of Paradise, displays stunning purple-throated hummingbirds in flight around its magnificent flowers. The Zingiberales order includes many other notable members such as Amomum, vochya, callisia, tapanhuacanga, portlandia and fransin. Each plant has unique characteristics that contribute to their overall allure. Intriguing interactions between animals and they are also be observed. For instance, an eyelash viper patiently waits on a Heliconia flower for unsuspecting prey to pass by. Meanwhile, rufous-tailed hummingbirds engage in territorial fighting over another Heliconia flower. Moving away from reptiles and birds towards mammals; leaf-nosed bats are attracted to banana flowers like Musa sp. , providing us with an enchanting sight as they fly towards them for nourishment. Not only do Zingiberales attract various creatures but they also capture human attention worldwide due to their aesthetic appeal. The Prayer plant's close-up reveals its intricately patterned leaf at TU Delft Botanical Garden in Netherlands while Calathea majestica showcases its majestic foliage found primarily in South America. Lastly, the iconic Bird of Paradise or Crane Flower (Strelitzia reginae) adds elegance to any garden setting despite being native to South Africa. Their vibrant colors and unique shape make them a popular choice among gardeners.