Hellenia speciosa (J.Koenig) S.R.Dutta

Tabar-tabar (Hellenia speciosa) is an upright herb up to 1-3 meters tall of the Costaceae family, native to India and Southeast Asia, distributed as far as Hawaii and Central America. Its rhizome and young shoots can be processed as food, while the plant is popular as an ornamental as well as an external remedy for snake bites. Tabar-tabar is also believed to be an aphrodisiac and to help relieve rheumatism.

Grows in lowlands up to elevations of 1,000 m above sea level, moist areas with slight shade or at forest edges. Grows wild beneath tall plants.

• Stem yellowish-brown in color, about the size of an adult finger, contains much water and easily broken.
• Leaves without a petiole arranged spirally, bract leaves elongated tapering, green in color, single, with a short ligule.
• Flowers at the tip, 5-6 cm long spike consisting of several flowers, very short-stalked. Bract leaves ovate, elongated, red, petals white, lip shape obovate widening, white and yellow-haired in the center.
• Fruit round, covered with very fine silk-like hair, red in color.
• Seeds ridged and black in color.

Propagated using seed, rhizome cuttings or stem cuttings.

Alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin, glycoside, saponin, steroid, anthocyanin, proanthocyanidin, ortho-dihydric phenol, diosgenin, sapogenin, β-glucosidase, polyphenol, sesquiterpene quinone, curcumin, triterpenes, lupeol, β-amyrin, palmitic acid.

Has antihyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain relief), antipyretic (fever reducer), antidiuretic, antistress, aphrodisiac (increases sexual vigor) activity, treats pneumonia, rheumatism, cough, contraceptive, lowers blood lipid levels (hypolipidemic), mental disorders, remedy for eye mucous membrane inflammation, promotes hair growth, treats boils, snake bites, smooths skin.

• Wash leaves thoroughly using running water.
• Air-dry the leaves, then dry in the sun for 9 hours covered with a black cloth or until dry.
• Store the simplisia in a clean, closed container at room temperature.

Galoba utan (Malay), Kelacing (Bangka), Pacing tawar (Java and Sunda), Tubu-tubu (Ambon), Muri-muri (Ternate).