Curcuma

Curcuma (Arab. Kurkum), an Indian genus of Scitamineæ, the ginger and cardamom order. C. longa is widely cultivated in Southern Asia, its rhizomes (radix curcumæ longæ of pharmacists) being the source of Turmeric (q.v.). Young plants also yield a kind of arrowroot, but this is especially prepared from C. leucorhiza, with colourless rhizomes. C. zedoaria yields a tonic medicine (radix zedoariæ officinalis or zedoary of pharmacists), and is also used as food. C. amada is the mango ginger of Bengal.