206 BURifA, ITS PEOPLE AXD PRODUCTIOA^S. 



To tlic above species given by Mason may be added — 



C. ZEDOAEIA, Roxb. Bengal. Chittagong. China. 



C. aromatica, Salis. 

 C. EUBESCENS, Roxb. Bengal. Pegu. 



The genus Curcuma is a very important one, as yielding turmeric and arrowroot. 



Turmeric is the root of C. lonija, and some other species yield a similar but 

 distinguishable condiment. The principal use of turmeric is as an ingredient of 

 curries, as it assists digestion by its stimulant and carminative properties, care being 

 tuken to cook it thoroughly, whereby its peculiar odour is entirely dissipated. It is 

 also universally applied externally with the belief in its curative powers in fever 

 and other complaints, and though not used in European medicine, a decoction applied 

 cold on a piece of linen to the eye is said by Waring " to give great relief to the 

 burning sensation in oplithalmia. It is also used by dyers, and in various religious 

 ceremonies among the Hindus. Paper coloured yellow by an alcoholic tincture of 

 turmeric is a highly sensitive test of the alkalinity of any solution, an alkaline 

 solution turning the yellow to red or brown. Various species of Curcuma yield 

 arrowroot, collectively known as East Indian arrowroot, which, though inferior to 

 to the best West Indian, is, when well prepared, an excellent article, both as a 

 food and for any purpose for wliich a pure starch is required. The species mostly 

 used are C. caulina, C. migusfifoUa, C. rubescinx, and C. leucorhka, but the roots of 

 many species of this order yield starch in profitable quantity. 



Ej;mi'Feeia, Linnicus. 



K. GAI.ANGA, L. (31.). 



Kha-noung. 



So named by Linnfeus, from its being supposed by him to yield the ' Galangal ' 

 root of commerce, a brown tuberous root with a faint aromatic smell, and pungent 

 taste sometliing between pepper and ginger. ' Galangal ' root would, however, seem 

 to be produced by several species of Zinziberaceous plants of the genus Kampferia 

 and AJpinia. 



*K. EOTUNDA (31.). 



Mye-ban-touk. 



Cultivated, according to Mason, for its sweet scented flavour. 



K. MAEGIXATA, Ciirey (M.). 

 K. CA^fDiDA, Wall. (M.). 



Pan-u-hpyu (M.). Padat-za (Th.). 



K. RoscoEAXA, Wall. (M.). 



K. TAEVIFLOEA (M.). 



Ka-mnng-ni. 

 Ka-muug-net. 



K. ELEGANS, Wall. 



K. Pabishii, Hook. fil. Bot. Mag. tab. 5763. (P.). 



Mason gives as vernacular names for other species of Kanipfcrla, Ka-mung- 

 taing-bya. Ka-mung-kyet-la. Kyo-ka-mung. 



K. ciindida or an allied species is one of the most conspicuous harbingers of the 

 hot season, thrusting up its crocus-like flowers from the parched earth as the hot 

 weather begins to make itself felt. It is called padut-za, from constituting the 

 favourite food of the Pudat [Liolepis guttutus). It is also cooked and eaten. 



Aiiojiusi, Linnaus. 



A. CAEDAlIOliril, L. 



Men or Ben. 



1 Manual of Tliorapcuties, E. J. Waring. 



