The developmental mechanism responsible for floral organ fusion has been posited as a key innovation in the evolution of angiosperms, enabling the diversification of angiosperm lineages and the emergence of novel and adaptive floral morphologies.  Previous research has pointed to the role of the NAM and CUC3 genes in the fusion pathway, suggesting that the transcription factors encoded by these genes promote organ separation and boundary formation.  NAM and CUC3 are members of the NAC family of plant transcription factor genes, and may be characterized as paralogous genes with many sequence similarities.  This research builds upon previous research into the behaviors of these genes in regulating floral organ fusion, investigating the evolution and expression patterns of NAM and CUC3 in the monocot order Zingiberales, with an emphasis on the whorl-specific expression of these genes in Costus spicatus or spiral ginger.  The aim of this research is to contribute new insights to our understanding of the underlying genetic and developmental mechanism of floral fusion, in a monocot order distinguished by unique fused floral morphologies.