438 SPICES 



CHAP. 



ZEDOAEY 



Zedoary, the rhizomes of Curcuma Zedoaria, is one 

 of those spices which attained its greatest popularity in 

 medieval times, but practically dropped out of commerce 

 many years ago. It is still, however, cultivated by 

 natives of the East Indies, and used in curry powder, as 

 well as medicines. 



The plant is a very handsome one, and to some 

 extent resembles turmeric, but is larger. The leaves are 

 produced in a tuft, and are about 18 in. tall and 6 in. 

 wide, erect, oblong, ovate, acuminate, bright green, with 

 a slash of purple brown colour running up the centre. 

 The flower-spike appears from outside the leaves, and 

 with them or frequently alone after the leaves have 

 withered. It is borne on a stout peduncle 18 in. long, 

 and has the form of a cylindrical cone, 6 in. long, of 

 spreading bracts. 



The lower bracts on the spike are bright green 

 tipped with pink, gradually passing upwards into deep 

 crimson ones forming the top of the spike. The flowers, 

 of which there are four to each bract, are pale yellow, 

 and produce one or two at a time on the spike. The 

 rhizome is large, fleshy, and rounded, like that of 

 turmeric, and bears also oblong, rounded tubers, whitish 

 orange to orange inside, less brilliantly coloured than 

 turmeric, and often nearly white. They possess a 

 distinct aromatic taste, not, however, very strong, and 

 not at all pungent. 



Cultivation. The plant is grown in just the same 

 way as turmeric, but is even stronger in growth. It is 

 even found growing in abandoned cultivations covered 

 with the rank Lalang grass (Imperata cylindrica), 

 having persisted and thriven long after the cultivation 

 has been abandoned. 



Use. Zedoary is more used as a drug than as a 

 spice, even in the East, and as a perfume. There seems 

 to be somewhat of a trade in it in America, as it is 

 quoted in the Midland Druggist of Columbus, Ohio, 



