Curcuma - Plant Encyclopedia Results

Boesenbergia rotunda, or Chinese Keys, is a small shrub native to Southeast Asia and grows to a height of 2-5 feet. It has large, glossy leaves, and its pink to off-white flowers are tubular and aromatic, and appear in terminal inflorescences. It is often planted for ornamental purposes, and its rhizomes are typically used as a vegetable in main dishes, or eaten raw when young.

When grown in USDA Zone 9-11, the plant should be placed in semi-shade and be given regular, but moderate watering. It is also important to give Boesenbergia rotunda an adequate amount of nitrogen to ensure its continued vitality. In colder regions, it can be grown in a pot, and should be transferred indoors during the winter.

Boesenbergia rotunda bears interesting, edible fruits, and has an impressive ethnomedical history. The small, hard fruits are often used as a spice or herb, and have a slightly sweet and sour taste. In traditional medicine, the plant is touted for its medicinal uses, and believed to have antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Eating the fruit can also directly benefit health, as it is said to improve circulation, ease stomach pain, and relieve menstrual cramps. In addition, it is thought to help improve digestion and reduce inflammation. One mature plant can produce up to sixty fruits per season.

Native to Thailand, Curcuma alismatifolia (Siam Tulip) is a small shrub that reaches up to 2-5 feet tall. In outdoor settings, the plant prefers shade or semi-shade, and needs regular water. During the growing season it produces stunning pink or white and off-white flowers. This species is considered a deciduous plant, and will lose much of its foliage during the dormant season.

Though this plant is typically grown in USDA Zone 9-11, a mature plant can be cold hardy at least to 30°F for a short time. In colder regions, this plant has to be grown in a protective pot placed in locations sheltered from extremely cold temperatures. Make sure the soil for Curcuma alismatifolia is kept moist to ensure growth and it should be well drained. Additionally, the pot should be lined with a plastic layer to protect from frost. If a container is used, the soil can dry out more quickly so it is important to check the soil regularly. When watering, make sure to water the soil and not the foliage. During the hottest months it may need water every day, as the heat can dry out the soil rapidly.

In summary, Curcuma alismatifolia is a deciduous plant native to Thailand reaching 2-5 feet tall. It prefers shade or semi-shade, needs regular water and produces stunning pink or white and off-white flowers. The mature plant is cold hardy at least to 30°F for a short time or in colder regions can be grown in a protective pot with a plastic lining in sheltered locations from the cold. The soil needs to be moist and well-drained, and should be checked regularly. Water the soil and not the foliage. It may need water every day during the warmest months.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a small plant that grows to a height of 2-5 ft and has a deciduous nature. Native to Asia, it has been used for centuries as a medicinal as well as a culinary herb. It has pink flowers and is known as an ethnomedical plant as it has been used in traditional folk medicine as a cure for several ailments. Curcuma longa is also used as a spice or herb, and is a common ingredient in curry powder.

This plant requires full sun for optimal growth, however it can also thrive in semi-shade. It needs regular watering. In can be grown in USDA Zones 8-11. In cold regions, it can be grown in a pot.

The health benefits of turmeric have been attributed to its active component, curcumin, found in the root. This ingredient has anti-inflammatory and disinfecting properties, and has been used traditionally to treat cuts and abrasions, as well as certain internal diseases. Curcumin is believed to be particularly beneficial when taken with black pepper, as piperine in black pepper boosts the effectiveness of curcumin.

Apart from its medicinal uses, turmeric is also used in food and textile dyeing, as an additive to foods like butter, mustard and cheese, as a natural ant deterrent, and as a seasoning in Asian dishes. It is found in its powdered form and is often mis-spelt as Tumeric.

Curcuma roscoeana is a small shrub with beautiful yellow or orange flowers and deep red-orange bracts native to Southeast Asia. Growing to a height of 2-5 feet, it is a deciduous plant that prefers semi-shade to shade and moderate water. It is hardy in the USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.

When the weather is warm, the colorful blooms of Curcuma roscoeana appear in the early autumn and last for several weeks, making it an attractive addition to any landscape.

If you live in a cold region, Curcuma roscoeana can be grown in a pot indoors as well. To keep this small shrub healthy, ensure it is in a spot with bright, indirect sunlight and provide ample water, particularly during the winter. Watering once a week, when the soil is dry, should be sufficient. Make sure to check the soil's moisture before watering and reduce watering if the soil doesn't appear dry. Fertilize the plant once a month during the growing season for best results.

Curcuma roscoeana is an easy-to-care-for plant that adds a touch of beauty and color to any space. With its vibrant blooms and simple maintenance, it's an ideal choice for any gardener.

Curcuma sp. or Turmeric is an ornamental plant native to Southeast Asia, Thailand. It can grow to a height of 2-5 feet and prefers to be placed in bright locations such as a semi-shady position. The plant produces beautiful flowers that come in shades of pink, blue, lavender, purple, red, crimson, vinous, yellow, and orange. It is also an ethnomedical plant, a spice or herb. Studies have shown that turmeric may be useful in the prevention and treatment of various diseases such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease.

This plant produces an excellent cut flower last up to about 14 days.

When it comes to growing Curcuma sp., it is important to keep the soil moist and water the plant regularly. It can thrive in USDA zones 8-11. For those living in areas with colder temperatures, it is best to grow Curcuma sp. in pots and bring them indoors during the cold season. To increase the speed of growth, you can also fertilize the plant in the spring and summer with a 10-10-10 fertilizer once a month.

Overall, Curcuma sp. is an easy to care for plant and its beauty makes it a great addition to any garden. With a little bit of effort and care, you can have a healthy and blossoming Siam Tulip in your home or garden.

The rhizome is the portion of the plant used medicinally; it is usually boiled, cleaned, and dried, yielding a yellow powder. Dried Curcuma longa is the source of the spice turmeric, the ingredient that gives curry powder its characteristic yellow color. Turmeric is used extensively in foods for both its flavor and color. Turmeric has a long tradition of use in the Chinese and Ayurvedic systems of medicine.

A Medium-sized tree. This tree has a very unique feature. It emits a charaecteristic fragrant smell. Even the flowers of this tree are strongly scented with the same fragrance. That is why this species has been named M. odorata. This fruit has never been found in the wild. Botanists are of the opinion that Kuwini (M. odorata) has originated as a hybrid between Mangifera indica and Mangifera foetida.

This fruit is commonly cultivated in Borneo, Sumatra and Java. It is also found in Thailand, Vietnam and Guam Islands. The Kuwini is a popular fruit, having local economic significance in areas where Mangifera indica cannot be grown satisfactorily because of excessive humidity. Kuwini can produce two crops a years in areas where two dry seasons prevail.

Fruit are much appreciated as table fruit. They must be peeled thick because of the presence of an acrid juice in the skin, which can also be reduced by steeping in diluted lime-water before eating.

The fruits are also used for making chutney and for pickles with salt. In Java a kind of flour is made of the seed kernels and used in the preparation of delicacies such as dodol (based on glutinous rice) and jenang pelok (a thick pappy preparation from Curcuma rhizomes).

Propagated by seed, only rarely by grafting.

The sap is an irritant which may inflame the lips and mouth.

Mangifera foetida fruit is very similar in appearance to the Mango. Ripe Horse Mango fruit is usually eaten fresh. Young fruits contain irritant juice and must be soaked.

Impressively statured herbaceous shrub with thickened veins and bright pink flowers. Very showy and useful plant. The leaves contain 0.4 - 1.3% indican, which can be hydrolyzed and oxidized to produce the classic Blue Indigo Dye. A dark Blue dye is obtained from the twigs. It is combined with Turmeric (Curcuma longa) to make Green, and with Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) to make Purple. The source of famous dye Assam Indigo, it was formerly cultivated on quite a large scale as a dye plant in China and India. Fresh juice from the leaves is used on Okinawa Island, Japan as a popular remedy for athlete's foot.

See Article about this plant: Strobilanthes, Chinese Rain Bell - a source of Blue, Green, and Purple.