Which species is “Costus”?
“Costus” names two unrelated traded plants: Saussurea costus (mu xiang, the CITES-listed Himalayan root of Chinese and Ayurvedic tradition) and the “insulin plant” (Chamaecostus cuspidatus, sold under the old name Costus igneus).
The species behind the name
- Costus Root (Mu Xiang)
Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch.
Saussurea costus (mu xiang / kuth) — the pharmacopoeial root; CITES Appendix I, so lawful trade is restricted; costunolide chemistry.
- Insulin Plant
Costus igneus (Chamaecostus cuspidatus)
Chamaecostus cuspidatus (“insulin plant,” ex-Costus igneus) — an unrelated ornamental of folk-use interest; shares nothing with Saussurea but the trade name.
How to tell what a product actually is
- The two are not in the same family — a “costus” label without a binomial is uninterpretable.
- S. costus is CITES Appendix I: provenance documentation is a legal requirement, not a nicety.
Educational use only. This page explains species identity — it makes no claim that any species works for anything, and it is never a place to decide what to take. It is not a substitute for medical advice. If you take medication, talk to your clinician or pharmacist before adding any botanical, whichever species it turns out to be.