Description

Ginger, Zingier officinal, is an erect, herbaceous perennial plant in the family Zingiberaceae grown for its edible rhizome (underground stem) which is widely used as a spice. The rhizome is brown, with a corky outer layer and pale-yellow scented center. The ginger plant has a thick, branched rhizome (underground stem) with a brown outer layer and yellow center that has a spicy, citrusy aroma. Every year, it grows pseudo stems (false stems made of tightly wrapped leaf bases) from the rhizome which bear narrow leaves. Ginger root is beige in color with a knotted, rough appearance. The part of the plant above the ground is a foot long upright stem with long, narrow leaves. The leaves are green and ribbed in texture. Ginger flowers are small and white or yellow-green in color