Family: Zingiberaceae
Boesenbergia rotunda, commonly known as Chinese-keys or fingerroot, is a tropical perennial herb in the ginger family native to Southeast Asia. It is grown for its distinctive finger-shaped rhizomes, which are crisp, aromatic, and widely used in Thai, Indonesian, and Malaysian cooking. The plant has lush green leaves, attractive foliage, and showy white-to-pink flowers, making it both useful and ornamental in home gardens. Beyond culinary use, fingerroot is also valued in traditional medicine for its reported antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
At this time, Boesenbergia rotunda is not known to be invasive in Hawaiʻi, and there are no documented ecological threats associated with its cultivation. It spreads slowly by rhizomes and does not show traits associated with aggressive or uncontrolled growth in the islands. While any introduced species should be planted responsibly, fingerroot is considered a low-risk herb for local gardens, and no major environmental concerns have been identified.
High Risk Traits:
- High climate match to tropical/subtropical regions.
- Tolerates a wide range of soils and shade.
- History of repeated introductions via cultivation.
- Reproduces vegetatively via rhizomes and tubers.
- Rapid generation time (matures in one season).
- Propagules dispersed intentionally by people.
- Tolerates mutilation and benefits from division.
Low Risk Traits:
- No evidence of naturalization or weediness anywhere.
- Not reported to be toxic to humans or animals.
- Lacks spines, thorns, and allelopathic properties.
- Propagules lack adaptations for wind, water, or animal dispersal.
- Low seed production; seeds are rarely used.
- Not dispersed as a contaminant.
