Curcuma

Curcuma is a genus of about 100 accepted species in the family Zingiberaceae that contains such species as turmeric and Siam Tulip. They are native to Southeast Asia, southern China, the Indian Subcontinent, New Guinea and northern Australia. Some species are reportedly naturalized in other warm parts of the world such as tropical Africa, Central America, Florida, and various islands of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans.

Description

Species in the genus Curcuma are rhizomatous herbs. The inflorescences take the form of a spike or raceme, and are often subtended by a showy pair of petal-like bracts. The bracteole is tubular, often as long as the floral leaves. The calyx is short and tubular, cut obliquely at the top. The corolla is tubular at the base, with the lateral lobes of the limb very short and the central lobe large and concave. There are two lateral staminodes. The labellum is large and usually forms two lateral lobes or wings, and the anther has a long base and is spurred, with the spur often as long as the anther's back.

Species

Some of the species within the genus Curcuma include:

• Curcuma longa - Turmeric
• Curcuma zedoaria - White Turmeric
• Curcuma angustifolia - East Indian Arrowroot
• Curcuma aromatica - Wild Turmeric
• Curcuma caesia - Black Turmeric
• Curcuma amada - Mango Ginger

Uses

Curcuma species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the moth Endoclita malabaricus. Some species naturally produce a compound called curcumin, which is used in both food and medicine.

See also

• List of Curcuma species

References

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External links

• Sorting Curcuma names - Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database

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