Serial no: 51
Status: Complete
Last update: 2024-10-26

ຂ່າ
Galanga
Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd.


Plants
Herbaceous plants
Vegetables and herbs

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Image 1

Local name:
ອັງກິດ: galangal, galingale, galanga. ໄທ: ຂ່າ ຈີນ: Hóng dòukòu xuémíng [红豆蔻学名] ຫວຽດ: Riềng nếp; Hồng đậu khấu; Sơn nại; Sơn khương tử, Riềng ấm ( Local Name: kha leuang, kha nyai, kha ban, kha daeng, kha khom, noh kha, kha pa ຂ່າຫຼວງ, ຂ່າໃຫຍ່, ຂ່າບ້ານ, ຂ່າແດງ, ຂ່າໂຄມ, ໜໍ່ຂ່າ, ຂ່າປ່າ Thai: kha. English: galangal, galingale, galanga. Several species of kha are used in Laos but taxonomy is confusing. Kha leuang, kha nhai and kha ban are often domesticated in village areas, but kha daeng, kha pa and kha khom grow naturally in the forest. )
Synonyms :
Alpinia alata A.Dietr.
Alpinia galanga var. galanga
Alpinia galanga var. pyramidata (Blume) K.Schum
Alpinia pyramidata Blume
Alpinia calcarata var. compacta Gagnep.
Alpinia cernua Sims
Languas galanga (L.) Stuntz
Maranta galanga L.
Zingiber galanga (L.) Stokes
Family:
Zingiberaceae.
Close relatives:
Description:
Ecology
Global distribution:
N/A
Distribution in Laos :
Landscape units :
Endemism in Laos:
N/A
Invasiveness :
N/A
IUCN status :
N/A
Lao official status :
N/A
Use
Use types:
Food
Farming activities
Medicine
Comments on use types:

Fruit and other parts of Kha are aromatic and provide a sweet tasting spice for other foods. The young pseudo stems and young inflorescence are eaten as vegetables. In Laos and Thailand especially, the root stock (rhizome) is commonly used for making sour soups, such as tom yam. Local people also gather the fruit for the Chinese traditional medicine market, where it is used to treat indigestion, stomach ache, diarrhea and vomiting. The volatile oil from the root stocks and leaves is also used as a remedy for impotence and nervousness, and to treat skin diseases. The rhizome and seeds are used as a fragrance in medicine. The red variety of galangal is preferred for medicine in Indonesia, and the white variety’s rhizome is used as a spice or source of essential oil, or to flavor alcohol. Rhizomes are also used to dye fabrics yellow and yellowish-green.

Domestication:
N/A
Seasonal availability:
Management:
N/A
Value chains:
N/A
Nutrition
Nutritional values:
Comments on nutritional values:
N/A
Nutrient /100g Remark
Proteins N/A N/A
Carbohydrates N/A N/A
Fats N/A N/A
Vitamins N/A N/A
Minerals N/A N/A
Fibers N/A N/A
References
Photo credits:
References:
Greijmans, M., Ketphanh, S., Lamxay, V., & Sengdala, K. 2007. Non-Timber Forest Products in the Lao PDR. A Manual of 100 Commercial and Traditional Products. The National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute. Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Leti, M., Hul, S., Fouché, J.-G., Cheng, S.K. & David, B. (2013). Flore photographique du Cambodge: 1-589. Éditions Privat, Toulouse.
Flora of China Editorial Committee. 2000. Flora of China (Flagellariaceae through Marantaceae). 24: 1–431. In C. Y. Wu, P. H. Raven & D. Y. Hong (eds.) Fl. China. Science Press & Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing & St. Louis.
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