CURCUMA. TURMERIC. I35 



CURCUMA. TURMERIC. 



The rhizome of Curcuma longa, L. {Curcuma ro- 

 tunda y L., Amomum, Jacq.)- Nat. Ord. ScitaminecB. 



This is a perennial plant with long sheathing radical 

 leaves. A native of India, it is cultivated throughout 

 that country, southern and eastern China, and the islands 

 of the East Indies. It grows also in Africa and Brazil. 

 The main portion of the rhizome from which the leaves 

 emanate constitutes round turmeric; its cylindrical or 

 fusiform rhizome branches form the long turmeric of 

 commerce. 



The rhizome sends out long, tough, very fine root 

 fibres, which sometimes develop at some distance from 

 their source into oval tubers, which consist, when young, 

 almost entirely of pure white starch, but when older 

 develop the yellow coloring-matter characterizing the 

 rhizome. 



Description. — The rhizome appears in the market in the 

 two forms characterized. The round turmeric comes in 

 round or pear-shaped masses, hard and dense, exteriorly 

 gray to light yellow, internally reddish-yellow. The 

 diameter is from i to as much as 30 cm. (Fliickiger). 

 The large rhizomes are cut transversely and all are 

 scalded to facilitate drying. The upper portion shows 

 nimierous stem scars arranged in concentric circles; 

 below are the large irregular scars of the rhizome branches, 

 and here and there a fine tough root fibre. The surface 

 between the markings is nearly smooth above, irregularly 

 wrinkled below. Long turmeric comes in tapering 

 cylindrical pieces, sometimes branched like ginger, but 

 usually simple, with large orange-colored scars. It is 

 indistinctly ringed, rough with deep irregular wrinkles. 

 The fracture is sharp, shining, and resinous, the odor 

 slightly aromatic, the taste pleasantly aromatic and 

 somewhat pungent. The varieties are: the Chinese, 



