141 



574. CURCUMA LONGA, continued. 



e. Bengal turmeric, inferior, from Calcutta. 



/. Malabar or Bombay turmeric. 



g. Java turmeric, from Amsterdam. 



Note. The Chinese is most esteemed, bat is seldom met with in the 

 European markets. Madras turmeric frequently consists entirely of 

 round rhizomes. It is a large kind. Bengal turmeric is of a deeper tint, 

 and is preferred for dyeing. Java turmeric is usually dusted with its 

 own powder, and is not of a very brilliant colour when broken. Pharma- 

 cographia, p. 579. The round rhizomes are the central portion or first 

 year's growth, the long rhizomes are the lateral rhizomes developed 

 afterwards from the central one. For fig. of the different kinds see Per. 

 Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., pp. 238-9. For Curcumin, see Pharmacographia, 

 p. 679. For fig of plant, see Bentley and Trimen, Med. Plants, tab. 269. 



575. CURCUMA SPECIES. 



a. Rhizome. (Yellow Ginger from Pernambuco.) 

 Note. This specimen was brought from Pernambuco by a brother of 

 the Rev. E. Bower. It has a yellow colour internally, and an aromatic 

 flavour, something like that of the yellow zedoary. It is labelled 

 Amomum sylvestre (?), but is placed here on account of its similarity to 

 the tubers of the Curcuma genus. 



576. CURCUMA ZEDOARIA, Roxb. (Castoorie munjil, Hindoo.) 



a. Rhizome. (Zedoary Root.) 



b. Ditto. (Cassumunar Root.) 



Note. These specimens, which have a yellow colour internally, and au 

 aromatic bitter taste with a turmeric flavour, correspond to Pereira's 

 description in his Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., pp. 242, 236, but not to Pomet 

 and Lemery's description. The above specimens are not true zedoary 

 root, which is of pinkish white colour, as described by Pomet in the Hist, 

 of Drugs, p. 33, and has a bitter taste and a flavour like rosemary or 

 cardamoms. For specimen of genuine zedoary and zerumbet roots see 

 Collections of Old English Drugs. Both the above specimens (a and b) 

 appear to be identical in structure and taste, and are evidently identical 

 with the turmeric-coloured zedoary of Ainslie, which is produced by 

 Curcuma Zedoaria of Roxburgh, true zedoary being the produce of 

 Curcuma Zerumbet of Roxburgh. See Ainslie, Mat. Med., vol. i., pp. 

 492, 493. The cassumunar roots are probably the long lateral shoots of 

 the Curcuma Zedoaria, Roxb. See P. J. [2] , vol. i., p. 17. 



577. CURCUMA ZERUMBET, Roxb. 



a. Rhizome. (Zedoary Root, Zerumbet Root.) 

 Note. This specimen was presented by Messrs. Cyriax and Farries. 

 It answers well to the description given by Ainslie in his Mat. Med., 

 vol. i., p. 492, and also to Pomet's description. The taste is bitter 

 and aromatic, like that of cardamoms ; and the cut surface is white 

 with a pinkish tint. The best is said to come from Ceylon. Its Tellingoo 

 name is keechlie gudda, and its Tamool name puldng-kilunggu. See A imlie. 

 Mat. Med., vol. i., pp. 492, 493; also Collections of Old English Drugt. 



Zerumbet root, according to Pomet, is the produce of the same plant 

 as true zedoary, zerumbet being the ovate and zedoary the long portion 

 of the rhizome. Zedoary formerly came from the East Indies and Isle 

 of St. Lawrence. For fig., see Goebel und Kunze, pt. ii., taf. xxiv.,figs. 3, 4. 



