Curcuma cordata

This is a real beauty from Thailand. The inflorescence looks like it's blown up from glass and measures up to abt 1 ft in length. It lasts for more than a month too. Alas, this beauty is not perennial like it's zingiber cousins and has a cycle of life. It pushes out from the ground around early in the year and goes into full bloom nearing July - Aug each year before it goes back into dormant stage. It's colors definitely makes it a good representative to the curcuma family.