2. Curcuma , Sp. pl. 1: 2 (1753).
By: Kalpana S. Dhakal
Taxon Description
Terrestrial herbs. Rhizome tuberous, aromatic. Pseudostems short. Leaves basal, often very large, petiolate; leaf blade oblong – lanceolate. Ligule inconspicuous. Inflorescence a terminal spike or on a separate shoot arising from rhizome; with colourful connate bracts; enclosing 2–7 bracteolate flowers.Flowers medium to large.Calyx shortly tubular, split on 1 side, apex 2 or 3 unequal lobed. Corolla funnelform, 3-lobed, subequal or central lobe longer. Lateral staminode petaloid, basally adanate to filament and labellum. Labellum with a thickened central portion and thinner lateral lobes. Filament short, broad; anther versatile, base usually spurred. Ovary 3-loculed, placentation axile; style filiform; stigma 2-lipped, lips ciliate. Capsule ellipsoid, 3-valved, dehiscent. Seeds few to many, ovoid or oblong.
Taxon Statistics
Worldwide about 110 species and are widely distributed in the tropics of Asia from India to South China, Southeast Asia, and Northern Australia. Two species in Nepal.
Key to Species
1a. Leaves flushed purplish brown around midrib ……………………………………………..………….……………….………. 2
b. Leaves green …………………………………………………..……………………………………………………………………..…………………. 3
2a. Leaves glabrous; coma bracts purple with apex green …….……………………………..….…… *Curcuma zedoaria
b. Leaves abaxially sparsely pubescent; coma bracts white with apex deep red ………………..…….. *C. phaeocaulis
3a. Inflorescence lateral …………………………………….………………………………………………………..……….………………….. 4
b. Inflorescence central ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
4a. Rhizome without sessile tubers; Leaves glabrous ……….……………………………….…………… 1. C. angustifolia
b. Rhizome with sessile tubers; Leaves pubescent below ………………………………………….…………… 2. C. aromatica
5a. Rhizome bright yellow or orange in colour …………………………………………………….………………….. *C. longa
b. Rhizome pale yellow, mango-scented ………………………………………………………………….…………………. *C. amada
Note: * Cultivated species (description not included).
1. Curcuma angustifolia Roxb., Asiat. Res.11: 338 (1810).
बर्खे सर्रो Barkhesaro, कचुरको फूल Kachur ko phool (Nepali)
Herbs 0.2–0.5 m. Rhizome small, pale white inside, tubers few-many, oblong, at the end of long fibres, sessile tubers absent, non-aromatic. Leaves 3-5 per shoot, petiole 4–20 cm; leaf blade narrow to lanceolate, 21–35 X 6–7.5 cm, glabrous, base attenuate, apex acuminate. Inflorescences on separate shoot arising from rhizomes, usually appearing before leaves, peduncle 4–30 cm, covered with sheath; spike conical, 6.5–13 X 3–7 cm; coma bracts spreading, greenish with pink tinged or pinkish red, narrowly oblong, ca. 5 cm, pubescent, apex mucronate; fertile bracts pale green, ovate, 3–5 cm; bracteoles membranous, ca. 1.5 cm. Flowers pale yellow, less showy, 2–3 in each bract, 3–4 cm. Calyx 0.5– 0.7 cm, sparsely hairy. Corolla tube funnel form, lobes lanceolate, ca. 2 cm, villous at throat. Lateral staminodes yellowish. Labellum pale yellow, oblong to lanceolate, apex acute to obtuse. Ovary ovoid. Capsule ovoid, slightly trigonal, ca. 1.5 X ca. 1.2 cm, pubescent. Seeds black, ovoid with basal constriction, 2–4 X 1.5–2 mm, smooth, aril white.
Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma and E Asia.
Altitudinal range: 150–2300 m
Ecology: Found wild in moist and shady place, rocky place, open place, as well as in Sal forest and on dry cultivated land.
Flowering/ Fruiting: July–August.
2. Curcuma aromatica Salisb., Parad. Lond. 2: pl. 96. (1808).
वन हलेदो Ban haledo, जङ्गली हलेदो Jangalee haledo (Nepali)
Herbs 1–1.5 m. Rhizome large, yellow inside, tubers many, curved, with articulated tubers, fleshy, aromatic. Leaves 4–6 per shoot, petiole 18–40 cm; leaf blade broadly lanceolate to oblong, 20–38 X 11–12 cm, adaxially glabrous, abaxially pubescent, base attenuate, apex narrowly caudate. Inflorescences on separate shoot arising from rhizomes, usually appearing before leaves, peduncle 22–30 cm, covered with sheath; spike conical, 12–14 X 4–10 cm; coma bracts spreading, greenish with pink tinged or red, narrowly oblong, 5–6 cm, pubescent, apex mucronate; fertile bracts pale green to white, ovate, 2.5–5 cm, pubescent; bracteoles membranous, ca. 2.5 cm, slightly hairy. Flowers yellow, showy, 2 in each bract, 2–4.5 cm. Calyx ca. 1.5 cm, sparsely hairy. Corolla tube funnel form, lobes oblong, ca. 4 cm, villous at throat. Lateral staminodes yellowish, ovate to oblong. Labellum yellow, obovate, apex emarginated. Ovary ovoid to ellipsoid. Capsule ovoid to ellipsoid, 2.5–4 X 1.5–2 cm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Seeds black, ovoid to ellipsoid, 2–3 X 1.5–2 mm, smooth, aril white.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma S Asia, E Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 450 – 2000 m
Ecology: Found wild in shady place, open place, near river as well as in Sal dominant forest.
Flowering/ Fruiting: April- June.
Exotic species
- Curcuma amada Roxb., Asiat. Res. 11: 341 (1810).
Cultivated (no description)
- Curcuma longa L., Sp. Pl. 1: 2 (1753).
Curcuma domestica Valeton,
Cultivated (no description)
- Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe Trans. Linn. soc. London. 8: 354 (1807).
Amomum zedoaria Christm, Vollst. Pflanzensyst. 5: 12 (1779).
Cultivated (no description)