Turmeric
Family Zingiberaceae
Curcuma domestica (= Curcuma longa), turmeric (C. domestica 1), is a perennial herb, up to 1 m high, with a short stem and tufted leaves. The leafy shoots bearing 6-10 leaves surrounded by sheaths. Leaves lanceolate, usually 30 cm long. Inflorescences borne on leaf shoots, the stalk enclosed by leafsheaths (C. domestica 2), (C. domestica 3). Bracts adnate for less than half their length, light green in colour. Flowers white, opening one at a time, with short calyx and coralla tubular at the base. Upper half of the corolla cub-shaped with 3 unequal lobes. Fruits are not produced.
Use
The rhizome (C. domestica 4), (C. domestica 5) produces an important spice in India and Southeast Asia. It is indispensable in the preparation of curry powder and it makes the yellow colour and spicy flavour to curries. It also produces a dye of a strong yellow colour, due to the presence of the pigment curcumin, which can be used for dying cotton, silk and wool. In India turmeric is also used in painting the body in Hindu rites.
Turmeric is mainly produced in India and Southeast Asia.