In Costa Rica in October 2010 I photographed these in a ravine in Matinilla, above Salitral, above Santa Ana. The area was wet and shaded, at about 4,000 feet elevation. This is a heavily human-disturbed forest in which tropical species mix with many imported plants. These strange-looking plants were common at the time, and I thought I'd easily be able to identify them, but I never have. Thank you.
Wow! Thank you both! I'd be happy just knowing its genus and understanding it's a ginger. However, following your suggestions, I looked at Z. zerumber per the link, and immediately I was struck by that one being too uniformly tapering or conical; when I looked at a picture of Z. spectabilis, I knew that was the one (unless it has an identical twin). Thank you both very much, again. Excellent.
It looks like the correct spelling is Zingiber spectabile. IPNI GRIN For information, it might be worthwhile to search both names.
I really appreciate all your combined efforts. I'll use the Zingiber spectabile name and Beehive Ginger, "until I know better". :-) I've located several more photos which show flowers and habitat. These plants were never planted by human hands, but would much more probably have long ago escaped from gardens miles away. The location in which I photographed these plants is in the mountains, all Spanish-speaking Tico and is a few miles from any real tourism. However, the animals and plants are a surviving mix representing a battered ecosystem. You see the worst and the best, like a microcosm of world society.