Subclass Zingiberidae

This tropical subclass is fairly small with 3800 species. Its members tend to have showy inflorescences with colorful bracts (leaflike structures that protect inflorescences). It contains two orders (Bromeliales and Zingiberales). (An order, with the ending -ales, is the taxonomic category that ranks above the family, ending -aceae.) There are a number of colourful and interesting representatives of both orders of the Zingiberidae in the Tropical Glasshouse.

Bromeliales

This order consists of just one family, the Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae).

Zingiberales 

This order contains eight families; in the Tropical Glasshouse there are representatives of the ginger family Zingiberaceae, the banana family Musaceae, the Bird-of-Paradise Flower family Strelitziaceae, the Marantaceae (famous for colourful leafy houseplants), and in the pond, the Canna 'lily' of the Cannaceae. Right, Hedychium gardnerianum, Zingiberiaceae.