''Curcuma'' () is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of plants in the ginger family

Zingiberaceae Zingiberaceae () or the ginger family is a family of flowering plants made up of about 50 genera with a total of about 1600 known species of aromatic perennial herbs with creeping horizontal or tuberous rhizomes distributed throughout tropical ...

that contains such species as

turmeric Turmeric (), or ''Curcuma longa'' (), is a flowering plant in the ginger family Zingiberaceae. It is a perennial, rhizomatous, herbaceous plant native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia that requires temperatures between and high ...

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. Generally, most curcuma grows well in loose and sandy soil in shaded areas.

Botanical description

Curcuma is a

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of ...

plant that can reach a height of 1 meter. It emits numerous, edible

rhizomes In botany and dendrology, a rhizome ( ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

whose interiors are yellow or orange. These rhizomes are reduced to a powder, which is the spice called curcuma. Its

lanceolate The following terms are used to describe leaf plant morphology, morphology in the description and taxonomy (biology), taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (that is, the leaf blade or 'lamina' is undivided) or compound (that is, the leaf blade ...

leaves are oblong or elliptical and are of a uniform green, and about 50cm long and 7 to 25 cm wide.

Uses

The name is derived from the Sanskrit ''kuṅkuma'', referring to

. Turmeric is used to flavour or colour curry powders, mustards, butters, and cheeses; it may also be used as a substitute for

saffron Saffron () is a spice derived from the flower of '' Crocus sativus'', commonly known as the "saffron crocus". The vivid crimson stigma and styles, called threads, are collected and dried for use mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent ...

or other yellowish pigments.

Species

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

accepts the following 167 species: *''

Curcuma achrae ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *'' Curcuma aeruginosa'' *'' Curcuma albiflora'' *'' Curcuma alismatifolia'' *''

Curcuma amada ''Curcuma amada'', or mango ginger is a plant of the ginger family Zingiberaceae and is closely related to turmeric (''Curcuma longa''). The rhizomes are very similar to common ginger but lack its pungency, and instead have a raw mango flavour. ...

'' *''

Curcuma amarissima ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *''

Curcuma andersonii ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *''

Curcuma angustifolia ''Curcuma angustifolia'' is one of over 80 species belonging to the genus ''Curcuma'' , in the family Zingiberaceae. This species is native to the Indian subcontinent and is more commonly known as East Indian arrowroot or narrow-leaved turmeric ...

'' *''

Curcuma antinaia ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *''

Curcuma arida ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *''

Curcuma aromatica ''Curcuma aromatica'' (common name: wild turmeric) is a member of the genus '' Curcuma'' belonging to the family Zingiberaceae. Botanically close to '' Curcuma australasica'', wild turmeric has been widely used as a cosmetic herbal in South Asia ...

'' *''

Curcuma arracanensis ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *''

Curcuma aruna ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *''

Curcuma attenuata ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *'' Curcuma aurantiaca'' *'' Curcuma australasica'' *'' Curcuma bakeriana'' *'' Curcuma bella'' *'' Curcuma bhatii'' *''

Curcuma bicolor ''Curcuma bicolor'' is a species of flowering plant in the ginger family. It was first described by John Donald Mood and Kai Larsen. Range ''Curcuma bicolor'' is native to Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and hist ...

'' *'' Curcuma caesia'' *'' Curcuma campanulata'' *'' Curcuma candida'' *'' Curcuma cannanorensis'' *'' Curcuma caulina'' *'' Curcuma ceratotheca'' *'' Curcuma chantaranothaii'' *'' Curcuma charanii'' *'' Curcuma cinnabarina'' *'' Curcuma clovisii'' *'' Curcuma cochinchinensis'' *'' Curcuma codonantha'' *'' Curcuma coerulea'' *'' Curcuma colorata'' *''

Curcuma comosa ''Curcuma comosa'' is a species of flowering plant in the Zingiberaceae, ginger family. It is native to much of Asia, including Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.Qu, Y., et al. (2009)Sesquiterpenes from ''Curcuma comosa''.''Journal of Natural Med ...

'' *''

Curcuma cordata ''Curcuma petiolata'' (also known as jewel of Thailand, Siam tulip, hidden ginger, pastel hidden ginger, hidden lily or queen lily) is a plant of the Zingiberaceae or ginger family. It is native to Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Java. Average heig ...

'' *'' Curcuma coriacea'' *'' Curcuma corniculata'' *'' Curcuma cotuana'' *'' Curcuma decipiens'' *'' Curcuma eburnea'' *'' Curcuma ecomata'' *'' Curcuma elata'' *'' Curcuma euchroma'' *'' Curcuma exigua'' *'' Curcuma ferruginea'' *'' Curcuma fimbriata'' *'' Curcuma flammea'' *'' Curcuma flaviflora'' *'' Curcuma glans'' *'' Curcuma glauca'' *'' Curcuma globulifera'' *'' Curcuma gracillima'' *'' Curcuma graminifolia'' *'' Curcuma grandiflora'' *'' Curcuma gulinqingensis'' *'' Curcuma haritha'' *'' Curcuma harmandii'' *'' Curcuma heyneana'' *''

Curcuma ignea ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *'' Curcuma inodora'' *'' Curcuma involucrata'' *'' Curcuma karnatakensis'' *'' Curcuma kayahensis'' *'' Curcuma kudagensis'' *'' Curcuma kwangsiensis'' *''

Curcuma lampangensis ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *''

Curcuma larsenii ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *'' Curcuma latiflora'' *'' Curcuma latifolia'' *'' Curcuma leonidii'' *'' Curcuma leucorrhiza'' *''

Curcuma lindstromii ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *''

Curcuma lithophila ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *'' Curcuma loerzingii'' *''

Curcuma longa Turmeric (), or ''Curcuma longa'' (), is a flowering plant in the ginger family Zingiberaceae. It is a perennial, rhizomatous, herbaceous plant native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia that requires temperatures between and high A ...

'' *'' Curcuma longispica'' *'' Curcuma macrochlamys'' *'' Curcuma mangga'' *''

Curcuma maxwellii ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *'' Curcuma meraukensis'' *''

Curcuma micrantha ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *'' Curcuma montana'' *'' Curcuma mukhraniae'' *'' Curcuma mutabilis'' *'' Curcuma myanmarensis'' *'' Curcuma nakhonphanomensis'' *'' Curcuma nankunshanensis'' *'' Curcuma neilgherrensis'' *'' Curcuma nepalensis'' *'' Curcuma newmanii'' *'' Curcuma oligantha'' *'' Curcuma ornata'' *'' Curcuma pambrosima'' *'' Curcuma papilionacea'' *'' Curcuma parviflora'' *'' Curcuma parvula'' *'' Curcuma pedicellata'' *'' Curcuma peramoena'' *'' Curcuma petiolata'' *'' Curcuma phaeocaulis'' *''

Curcuma phrayawan ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *'' Curcuma picta'' *'' Curcuma pierreana'' *'' Curcuma pitukii'' *'' Curcuma plicata'' *'' Curcuma prakasha'' *'' Curcuma prasina'' *'' Curcuma pseudomontana'' *'' Curcuma puangpeniae'' *'' Curcuma pulcherrima'' *'' Curcuma purpurascens'' *'' Curcuma purpurata'' *'' Curcuma putii'' *'' Curcuma pygmaea'' *'' Curcuma rangjued'' *''

Curcuma rangsimae ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spe ...

'' *'' Curcuma reclinata'' *'' Curcuma rhabdota'' *'' Curcuma rhomba'' *'' Curcuma roscoeana'' *'' Curcuma rosea'' *'' Curcuma roxburghii'' *'' Curcuma rubescens'' *'' Curcuma rubroaurantiaca'' *'' Curcuma rubrobracteata'' *'' Curcuma rufostriata'' *'' Curcuma ruiliensis'' *'' Curcuma sabhasrii'' *'' Curcuma sahuynhensis'' *'' Curcuma saraburiensis'' *'' Curcuma sattayasaiorum'' *'' Curcuma scaposa'' *'' Curcuma sessilis'' *'' Curcuma siamensis'' *'' Curcuma sichuanensis'' *'' Curcuma singularis'' *'' Curcuma sixsensesensis'' *'' Curcuma sparganiifolia'' *''

Curcuma spathulata ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the ginger 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 spec ...

'' *'' Curcuma stahlianthoides'' *'' Curcuma stenochila'' *'' Curcuma stolonifera'' *'' Curcuma strobilifera'' *'' Curcuma sumatrana'' *'' Curcuma suphanensis'' *'' Curcuma supraneeana'' *'' Curcuma suraponii'' *'' Curcuma sylvatica'' *'' Curcuma thorelii'' *'' Curcuma tongii'' *'' Curcuma trichosantha'' *'' Curcuma tuanii'' *'' Curcuma vamana'' *'' Curcuma vinhlinhensis'' *'' Curcuma viridiflora'' *'' Curcuma vitellina'' *'' Curcuma wallichii'' *'' Curcuma wanenlueanga'' *'' Curcuma wilcockii'' *'' Curcuma woodii'' *'' Curcuma xanthella'' *'' Curcuma yingdeensis'' *'' Curcuma yunnanensis'' *'' Curcuma zanthorrhiza'' *''

Curcuma zedoaria ''Curcuma zedoaria'' (zedoary /ˈzɛdəʊərɪ/, white turmeric, or temu putih) is a perennial herb and member of the genus '' Curcuma'', family Zingiberaceae. The plant is native to South Asia and Southeast Asia but is now naturalized in other ...

'' *'' Curcuma zedoarioides''

Gallery

Image:Curcuma aeruginosa1.jpg, ''Curcuma aeruginosa'' Image:Curcuma longa (Haldi) Im IMG 2441.jpg, ''Curcuma longa'' Image:Curcuma by titanium22.jpg, ''Curcuma sp.'' Image:Curcuma sp.jpg, ''Curcuma sp.''

References

{{Authority control Zingiberaceae genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus