CULTIVAR NAME: 'Aloha'
PARENTAGE: Costus aff. allenii
STATUS: Name accepted, established.
TYPE: unknown species/variety
REFERENCE: http://www.gingersrus.com
PUBLISHED: September 2017 in Heliconia Society Bulletin 23 (3)
REGISTRANT: Dave Skinner
NOTES:
ORIGIN: Found in 2008 along the Rio Teribe in Bocas del Toro, Panama.
DESCRIPTION: Plant has been vouchered at the UC Berkeley, Jepsen Herbarium, UC2045803. Plant consistent with species Costus allenii except that the bracts are appendaged, so this might be a natural hybrid with C. guanaiensis or with C. villosissimus. Plant grows to about 3 meters tall and all vegetative parts are covered with thick brownish colored hairs. Ligules are short, less than 1 cm and slightly lobed. Flowers have yellow corollas and red-striped open-type labellum.