Verifying the Scientific Name of Costus [Saussurea lappa ((Decne.)C.B.Clarke.) – Asteraceae]

Costus is the root of Saussurea lappa, ((Decne.)C.B.Clarke.)Asteraceae), an aromatic perennial plant growing in the open slopes ofIndia and Kashmir, its essential oil is used as tonic, stimulant andantiseptic differs from Costus spicatus (Jacq.) S.w., (Costaceae)belong to order Zingiberales. There is a nomenclature confusionbetween Saussurea lappa and Costus spicatus, due to the uses of thesame Arabic name Costus. It was found that both species are reallyseparated from each other through anatomical investigations where theformer belong to dicotolydoneae group and the latter tomonocotolydoneae.