Costaceae
	Genera : 4 Species: 150 - 200   To Genus Directory: Costus Vismia angust

Distribution: Pantropical, with many in the New World.

Economic Uses: As culitvated ornamentals or house plants and locally used for medicinal purposes.

Defining Features of Interest: The family is similar to the Zigiberaceae, but differs in that the 'labellum' of the flower is comprised of 5 staminodes instead of 3 , and the Costaceae contains no aromatic oils. The stems are often twisted in a spiral manner.

Fossil Evidence:No known fossil record.

Defining Morphology

Floral Features : Zygomorphic and perfect. Staminodes fused to from a labellum. Inflorescence a terminal head or spike. Each flower subtended by a bract. Epigynous.

Fruit and Seed Features : Fruit is a berry or capsule. Seed with a red aril and endosperm present. Placentation is axile or parietal.

Vegetative Features : Habit is as a perennial form fleshy rhizomes or tuberous roots. The stem is often twisted in a spiral. Leaves are simple, entire and alternate/spirally arranged. Leaf bases have closed sheath with a ligule present. The petiole is short and the leaf is rolled in bud.