Curcuma

Curcuma
	Curcuma zedoaria; 1896 illustration
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Zingiberales
Family:	Zingiberaceae
Subfamily:	Zingiberoideae
Tribe:	Zingibereae
Genus:	Curcuma; L. (1753), nom. cons.
Synonyms
	Dischema Voigt (1845); Erndlia Giseke (1792); Hitchenia Wall. (1834 publ. 1835); Hitcheniopsis (Baker) Ridl. (1924); Kua Rheede ex Medic. (1790); Laosanthus K.Larsen & Jenjitt. (2001); Paracautleya R.M.Sm. (1977); Smithatris W.J.Kress & K.Larsen (2001); Stahlianthus Kuntze (1891); Stissera Giseke 1792, illegitimate homonym not Heist. ex Fabr. 1759; Zedoaria Raf. (1838), nom. nud.;

Curcuma (/ˈkɜːrkjʊmə/)^[3] is a genus of plants 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.^[4] 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.^[5]^[6]

Quick Facts Scientific classification, Synonyms ...

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Curcuma is a perennial, herbaceous plant that can reach a height of 1 meter. It emits numerous, edible rhizomes whose interiors are yellow or orange. These rhizomes are reduced to a powder, which is the spice called curcuma. Its lanceolate leaves are oblong or elliptical and are of a uniform green, and about 50cm long and 7 to 25 cm wide.^[7]

The name is derived from the Sanskrit kuṅkuma, referring to turmeric. Turmeric is used to flavour or colour curry powders, mustards, butters, and cheeses; it may also be used as a substitute for saffron or other yellowish pigments.^[8]

Plants of the World Online currently includes:^[9]

Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb.
Curcuma albiflora Thwaites
Curcuma alismatifolia Gagnep. : Siam tulip
Curcuma amada Roxb. : mango-ginger
Curcuma amarissima Roscoe
Curcuma andersonii (Baker) Škornick.
Curcuma angustifolia Roxb.
Curcuma antinaia Chaveer. & Tanee
Curcuma arida Škornick. & N.S.Lý
Curcuma aromatica Salisb. : wild turmeric
Curcuma arracanensis W.J.Kress & V.Gowda
Curcuma attenuata Wall. ex Baker
Curcuma aurantiaca Zijp
Curcuma australasica Hook.f.
Curcuma bakeriana Hemsl.
Curcuma bella Maknoi, K.Larsen & Sirirugsa
Curcuma bhatii (R.M.Sm.) Škornick. & M.Sabu
Curcuma bicolor Mood & K.Larsen
Curcuma caesia Roxb.
Curcuma campanulata (Kuntze) Škornick.
Curcuma candida (Wall.) Techapr. & Škornick.
Curcuma cannanorensis R.Ansari, V.J.Nair & N.C.Nair
Curcuma caulina J.Graham
Curcuma ceratotheca K.Schum.
Curcuma clovisii Škornick.
Curcuma cochinchinensis Gagnep.
Curcuma codonantha Škornick., M.Sabu & Prasanthk.
Curcuma coerulea K.Schum.
Curcuma colorata Valeton
Curcuma comosa Roxb.
Curcuma coriacea Mangaly & M.Sabu
Curcuma corniculata Škornick.
Curcuma cotuana Luu, Škornick. & H.Ð.Tran
Curcuma decipiens Dalzell
Curcuma ecomata Craib
Curcuma elata Roxb.
Curcuma euchroma Valeton
Curcuma exigua N.Liu
Curcuma ferruginea Roxb.
Curcuma flammea Škornick.
Curcuma flaviflora S.Q.Tong
Curcuma glans K.Larsen & Mood
Curcuma glauca (Wall.) Škornick.
Curcuma gracillima Gagnep.
Curcuma graminifolia (K.Larsen & Jenjitt.) Škornick.
Curcuma grandiflora Wall. ex Baker
Curcuma gulinqingensis N.H.Xia & Juan Chen
Curcuma haritha Mangaly & M.Sabu
Curcuma harmandii Gagnep.
Curcuma heyneana Valeton & Zijp
Curcuma ignea Ruchis. & Jenjitt.^[10]
Curcuma inodora Blatt.
Curcuma involucrata (King ex Baker) Škornick.
Curcuma karnatakensis Amalraj, Velay. & Mural.
Curcuma kayahensis Nob.Tanaka & M.M.Aung
Curcuma kudagensis Velay., V.S.Pillai & Amalraj
Curcuma kwangsiensis S.G.Lee & C.F.Liang
Curcuma larsenii Maknoi & Jenjitt.
Curcuma latiflora Valeton
Curcuma latifolia Roscoe
Curcuma leonidii Škornick. & Luu identified at Bu Gia Map National Park^[11]
Curcuma leucorrhiza Roxb.
Curcuma loerzingii Valeton
Curcuma longa L. : turmeric - type species
Curcuma longispica Valeton
Curcuma macrochlamys (Baker) Škornick.
Curcuma mangga Valeton & Zijp
Curcuma meraukensis Valeton
Curcuma montana Roxb.
Curcuma mukhraniae R.Kr.Singh & Arti Garg
Curcuma mutabilis Škornick., M.Sabu & Prasanthk.
Curcuma myanmarensis (W.J.Kress) Škornick.
Curcuma nankunshanensis N.Liu, X.B.Ye & Juan Chen
Curcuma neilgherrensis Wight
Curcuma nepalensis M.Sabu, Kasaju & S.Subedi
Curcuma newmanii Škornick.^[12]
Curcuma oligantha Trimen
Curcuma ornata Wall. ex Baker
Curcuma pambrosima Škornick. & N.S.Lý
Curcuma parviflora Wall.
Curcuma parvula Gage
Curcuma pedicellata (Chaveer. & Mokkamul) Škornick.
Curcuma peramoena Souvann. & Maknoi
Curcuma petiolata Roxb.
Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton
Curcuma picta Roxb. ex Škornick.
Curcuma pierreana Gagnep.
Curcuma plicata Wall. ex Baker
Curcuma porphyrotaenia Zipp. ex Span.
Curcuma prakasha S.Tripathi
Curcuma prasina Skornick.
Curcuma pseudomontana J.Graham
Curcuma purpurascens Blume
Curcuma putii Maknoi & Jenjitt.
Curcuma pygmaea Škornick. & Šída f.
Curcuma reclinata Roxb.
Curcuma rhabdota Sirirugsa & M.F.Newman
Curcuma rhomba Mood & K.Larsen
Curcuma roscoeana Wall.
Curcuma roxburghii M.A.Rahman & Yusuf
Curcuma rubescens Roxb.
Curcuma rubrobracteata Škornick., M.Sabu & Prasanthk.
Curcuma sahuynhensis Škornick. & N.S.Lý
Curcuma saraburiensis Boonma & Saensouk
Curcuma sattayasaiorum Chaveer. & Sudmoon
Curcuma scaposa (Nimmo) Škornick. & M.Sabu
Curcuma sessilis Gage
Curcuma sichuanensis X.X.Chen
Curcuma singularis Gagnep.
Curcuma sparganiifolia Gagnep.
Curcuma stenochila Gagnep.
Curcuma strobilifera Wall. ex Baker
Curcuma sumatrana Miq.
Curcuma supraneeana (W.J.Kress & K.Larsen) Škornick.
Curcuma sylvatica Valeton
Curcuma thorelii Gagnep.
Curcuma tongii Y.H.Tan & Li X.Zhang^[13]
Curcuma trichosantha Gagnep.
Curcuma vamana M.Sabu & Mangaly
Curcuma viridiflora Roxb.
Curcuma vitellina Škornick. & H.Ð.Tran
Curcuma wallichii M.A.Rahman & Yusuf
Curcuma wilcockii M.A.Rahman & Yusuf
Curcuma woodii N.H.Xia & Juan Chen
Curcuma xanthella Škornick.^[12]
Curcuma yingdeensis N.H.Xia & Juan Chen
Curcuma yunnanensis N.Liu & S.J.Chen
Curcuma zanthorrhiza Roxb. : temu lawak
Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe : zedoary
Curcuma zedoarioides Chaveer. & Tanee

[1]
Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen
[2]
Curcuma L. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
[3]
"curcuma". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.
[4]
"Curcuma [family ZINGIBERACEAE]". Global Plants.
[5]
Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
[6]
Sirirugsa, P.; Larsen, K.; Maknoi, C. (2007). "The Genus Curcuma L. (Zingiberaceae): Distribution and Classification with Reference to Species Diversity in Thailand" (PDF). Gardens' Bulletin Singapore. 59 (1&2): 203–220. S2CID 173169715. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-07-25. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
[7]
Collectif (2016). Histoire Naturelle (in French). Paris: Flammarion. p. 149. ISBN 9782081378599.
[8]
Somadeva (1924) [1079]. "The use of turmeric (kuṅkuma) in ancient India". Kathasaritsagara [The Ocean of Story]. Vol. XIII, ch. 104. Translated by Tawney, C. H. B.R. Publishing Corporation. p. 13. ISBN 9789350501351.
[9]
Plants of the World Online: Curcuma L. (retrieved 3 May 2021)
[10]
Ruchisansakun, Saroj; Jenjittikul, Thaya (2023-07-13). "Curcuma Ignea (Zingiberaceae), A Spectacular New Species from Thailand". Edinburgh Journal of Botany. 80: 1–8. doi:10.24823/ejb.2023.1959. ISSN 1474-0036.
[11]
"Leonid crocus (Curcuma leonidii) – a new species discovered in Bu Gia Map National Park in Binh Phuoc province". Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 2014-05-04. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
[12]
Leong-Škorničková, J.; Trần, H.Ð. (2013). "Two new species of Curcuma subgen. Ecomata (Zingiberaceae) from southern Vietnam". Gardens' Bulletin Singapore. 65 (2): 169–180.
[13]
Zhang, Li-Xia; Ding, Hong-Bo; Li, Hai-Tao; Zhang, Zhong-Lian; Tan, Yun-Hong (11 March 2019). "Curcuma tongii, a new species of Curcuma subgen. Ecomatae (Zingiberaceae) from southern Yunnan, China". Phytotaxa. 395 (3): 241. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.395.3.9. S2CID 92158324.

Curcuma aeruginosa
Curcuma longa
Curcuma sp.
Curcuma sp.

[1] [1]
Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen

[2] [2]
Curcuma L. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

[3] [3]
"curcuma". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.

[4] [4]
"Curcuma [family ZINGIBERACEAE]". Global Plants.

[powdi-5] [5]
Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families

[6] [6]
Sirirugsa, P.; Larsen, K.; Maknoi, C. (2007). "The Genus Curcuma L. (Zingiberaceae): Distribution and Classification with Reference to Species Diversity in Thailand" (PDF). Gardens' Bulletin Singapore. 59 (1&2): 203–220. S2CID 173169715. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-07-25. Retrieved 2021-10-20.

[7] [7]
Collectif (2016). Histoire Naturelle (in French). Paris: Flammarion. p. 149. ISBN 9782081378599.

[8] [8]
Somadeva (1924) [1079]. "The use of turmeric (kuṅkuma) in ancient India". Kathasaritsagara [The Ocean of Story]. Vol. XIII, ch. 104. Translated by Tawney, C. H. B.R. Publishing Corporation. p. 13. ISBN 9789350501351.

[POWO-9] [9]
Plants of the World Online: Curcuma L. (retrieved 3 May 2021)

[h815-10] [10]
Ruchisansakun, Saroj; Jenjittikul, Thaya (2023-07-13). "Curcuma Ignea (Zingiberaceae), A Spectacular New Species from Thailand". Edinburgh Journal of Botany. 80: 1–8. doi:10.24823/ejb.2023.1959. ISSN 1474-0036.

[11] [11]
"Leonid crocus (Curcuma leonidii) – a new species discovered in Bu Gia Map National Park in Binh Phuoc province". Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 2014-05-04. Retrieved 2014-05-03.

[Škorničková2013-12] [12]
Leong-Škorničková, J.; Trần, H.Ð. (2013). "Two new species of Curcuma subgen. Ecomata (Zingiberaceae) from southern Vietnam". Gardens' Bulletin Singapore. 65 (2): 169–180.

[13] [13]
Zhang, Li-Xia; Ding, Hong-Bo; Li, Hai-Tao; Zhang, Zhong-Lian; Tan, Yun-Hong (11 March 2019). "Curcuma tongii, a new species of Curcuma subgen. Ecomatae (Zingiberaceae) from southern Yunnan, China". Phytotaxa. 395 (3): 241. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.395.3.9. S2CID 92158324.

[3]

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[5]

[6]

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[2]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

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Curcuma

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Botanical description

Uses

Species

References

Gallery

Curcuma

Curcuma zedoaria 1896 illustration^[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Zingiberales
Family:	Zingiberaceae
Subfamily:	Zingiberoideae
Tribe:	Zingibereae
Genus:	Curcuma L. (1753), nom. cons.
Synonyms^[2]
Dischema Voigt (1845) Erndlia Giseke (1792) Hitchenia Wall. (1834 publ. 1835) Hitcheniopsis (Baker) Ridl. (1924) Kua Rheede ex Medic. (1790) Laosanthus K.Larsen & Jenjitt. (2001) Paracautleya R.M.Sm. (1977) Smithatris W.J.Kress & K.Larsen (2001) Stahlianthus Kuntze (1891) Stissera Giseke 1792, illegitimate homonym not Heist. ex Fabr. 1759 Zedoaria Raf. (1838), nom. nud.