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Curcuma longa

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Photo by
Paul Latham.

Author: Carl Linnaeus, 1753
Family:  ZINGIBERACEAE
Origin:  India (and most of the tropic belt)
Soil:  Rich
Water:  Medium - Maximum
Sun:  Medium
Thickness:  4 Centimetres
Height:  150 Centimetres
Flower:  White - White / Pink - Yellow
Propagate:  Seeds/Rhizomes
Names:  Turmeric, Curcuma, Safran des Indies
Synonyms:  Amomum curcuma Jacq. 1804.
Curcuma domestica
Valeton, 1918.
Stissera curcuma
Raeusch.
Curcuma brog, Valeton.
Curcuma longa
var. vanaharidra, Velay., Pandrav., J.K.George & Varapr.
Curcuma ochrorhiza,
Valeton.
Curcuma soloensis,
Valeton.
Kua domestica,
Medik.

This member of the Zingiberaceae family was given this name by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It is found in India (and now in Belize, Bolivia, Caribbean Islands, China, Comoros, Ecuador, Gabon, Honduras, Madagascar, Panama, Peru and probably other places as well). It is growing in a rich soil with quite some water and some sun. The rhizomes can grow to four centimetres in diameter and the plant can reach 150 centimetres in height. The flowers are from white over white/pink to yellow.

The name comes from the Sanskrit kuṅkuma, referring to turmeric. The species name means 'long'.