394 



VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



Turmeric Curcuma longa. 



eastern people seem so fond. The East-Indians 

 make the same use of it. 



The roots of the curcuma longa spread far under 

 the surface of the ground ; they are long and succu- 

 lent, and about half an inch in thickness, having 

 many circular knots, from which arise four or five 

 spear-shaped leaves, standing" upon long foot-stalks. 

 The flowers grow in loose scaly spikes, surmounting 

 the foot-stalks which spring from the larger knots of 

 the roots, and attain to about a foot in height. The 



