The Zingiberaceae or ginger family contains about 1300 species in 50 genera and is distributed throughout tropical Asia, Africa and the Americas. Its members are strictly fragrant perennial herbs with horizontal rhizomes, often showy flowers and simple distichous leaves with basal sheaths. The flowers are typically strongly zygomorphic in determinate cymes and subtended by spirally arranged bracts. The family takes its epithet from genus Zingiber, the name of which derives from the Greek zingiberis which is what Dioscorides called ginger or some other Arabian spice, and that name is derived in turn from the Sanskrit name of the spice, singabera. It was used in India and China in ancient times. Many species are rich in aromatic, volatile oils and used widely as spices, condiments, dyes and medicines. Some of the spices are ginger, turmeric, cardamom, and numerous others.