TURMERIC TURPETH. 287 



TURMERIC. Curcuma tonga, Linn. 



N.O. Zingiberacea. 



Syn. Curcuma, Curcuma rotunda. Linn., Amomum 

 Curcuma, Jacq. 



Part used Rhizome. 



Action Carminative, stimulating. Seldom used in 

 medicine ; in pharmacy it is employed as a colouring 

 agent, and in cookery both as colour and seasoning. It 

 forms a part of most curry powders, and enters into 

 many cattle condiments. 



Distinctive character Turmeric occurs in com- 

 merce in several varieties. The Madras kind is sold, 

 both round and long pieces. The round pieces, or bulbs, 

 are the large central rhizome, about the size of a 

 pigeon's egg, and are more or less pyriform, and marked 

 with transverse ridges or leaf scars, and the long are 

 the lateral rhizomes. Both are yellowish brown inter- 

 nally, with a short fracture. The Madras kind is pre- 

 ferred for flavouring purposes. The Bengal kind occurs 

 in smaller, cylindrical pieces, greyish externally, and 

 about inch in diameter, and dark brownish yellow 

 internally, with a resinous fracture. It is preferred for 

 dyeing purposes. Taste, aromatic. Odour, charac- 

 teristic. 



TURPETH. Ipomoea Turpethum, R. Br. 



N.O. Convolvulacecs. 

 Syn. Turpeth Root. 



Part used Root. 



Action Cathartic, purgative. Used in India for 

 similar purposes as Jalap, which it resembles closely in 

 its action. 



