Costus arabicus Linnaeus, Species Plantarum 1: 2. 1753.

"Habitat in India utraque." RCN: 8.

Lectotype (Nicolson & al., Interpret. Van Rheede’s Hort. Malab. : 316. 1988): [icon] " Costus arabicus " in Merian, Metamorph. Insect. Surinam.: 36, t. 36. 1705 (see p. 142).

Generitype of Costus Linnaeus.

Current name: Costus arabicus L. (Zingiberaceae/Costaceae).

Note: Maas (in Howard, Fl. Lesser Antilles 3: 531. 1979) indicated as type "a drawing by Ehret of a plant cultivated in the Hortus Cliffortianus … It is deposited in the library of Sir Joseph Banks (BM)". It seems most unlikely that Ehret’s drawing (it is not cited by Linnaeus) can be an original element for the name.