Alpin'ia officina'rum, Galanga, Galangel, N.F.: The dried rhizome with not more than 2 p.c. of foreign organic matter, yielding not more than 3 p.c. of acid-insoluble ash. China cultivated. Perennial flag-like herb; flowers terminal racemes, white, red-veined. Rhizome, irregularly branched, 2- 1 0 Cm. (4/5 - 4' ) long, 1-2 Cm. (2/5 - 4/5') thick, branches with annuli of lighter-colored leaf bases, 3-10 Mn. (1/8 - 2/5') apart, rusty brown, internally orange-brown, cut end of branches circular and expanded; fracture fibrous; odor aromatic, agreeable; taste hot, spicy, ginger-like. Powder, reddish-brown -- numerous starch grains, oil cells and reddish resin cells, tracheae with thickenings, pores, thick-walled fibers, no lignified tissue; contains volitale oil .5 p. c., resin, gum bassorin, fat, galangol, galangin, kaempferid, alpinin, starch 23 p.c. Stimulant, aromatic, carminative, improve digestion, relieve flatulence. Dose, gr. 5-20 (.3-1.3 Gm.); 1. Tinctura Aromatica, 2 p.c.