RHIZOMA CURCUAr.E. 639 



elongated lateral ones as Curcuma longn, were regarded by Linnseus 

 as the production of distinct species. 



The radical tubers of some species of Curcuma, as C. angustifolia 

 Roxb., are used for making a sort of arrowroot (p. 637). Sometimes 

 they are dried, and constitute the peculiar kind of turmeric which the 

 Chinese call Yuh-kin.^ 



The turmei'ic of commerce consists of the two sorts of rhizome just 

 mentioned, namely, the cerdral or round and the lateral or lovg. The 

 former are ovate, pyriform or subspherical, sometimes pointed at the 

 upper end and crowned with the remains of leaves, while the sides 

 are beset with those of roots and marked with concentric ridges. The 

 diameter is very variable, but is seldom less than f of an inch, and is 

 frequently much more. They are often cut and usually scalded in order 

 to destroy their vitality and facilitate drying. 



The lateral rhizomes are subcylindrical, attenuated towards either 

 end, generally curved, covered with a rugose skin, and marked more or 

 less plainly with transverse rings. Sometimes one, two or more short 

 knobs or shoots grow out on one side. The rhizomes, whether round 

 or long, are very hard and firm, exhibiting when broken a dull, waxy, 

 resinous surftice, of an orange or oi'ange-brown hue, more or less 

 brilliant. They have a peculiar aromatic odour and taste. 



Several varieties of turmeric distinguished by the name.s of the 

 countries or districts in which they are produced, are found in the 

 English market : but although they present differences which are 

 sufficiently appreciable to the eye of the experienced dealer, the 

 characters of each sort are scarcely so marked or so constant as to 

 be recognizable by mere verbal description. The principal sorts now 

 in commerce are known as China, Madras, Bengal, Java, and Cochin. 

 Of these the first named is the most esteemed, but it is seldom to be 

 met with in the European market.- 



Madras Turmeric is a fine sort in large, bold pieces. Sometimes 

 packages of it contain exclusively round rhizomes, while others are 

 made up entirely of the long or lateral. 



Bengal Turmeric differs from the other varieties chiefly in its 

 deeper tint, and hence is the sort preferred for dyeing purposes. 



Java Turmeric presents no very distinctive features ; it is dusted 

 with its owii powder, and does not show when broken a very brilliant 

 colour. Judging by the low price at which it is quoted it is not in 

 great esteem. It is the produce of Curcuma longa^ var. /3. rainor^ 

 Hassk. 



Microscopic Structure — The suberous coat is made up of 8 to 10 

 rows of tabular cells ; the parenchjrme of the middle cortical layer of 

 large roundish polyhedral cells. Towards the centre the transverse 

 section exhibits a coherent ring of fibro-vascular bundles representing 

 a kind of medullary sheath. The parenchyme enclosed by this ring 

 is traversed by scattered bundles of vessels, and in most of its cells 

 contains starch in amorphous, angular, or roundish masses, which are 



^Hanbury, P/(a?-»i. /oMrn. iii. (1862)206; Returns of Trade at the Treaty Ports of 



also Science Papers, 254, fig. 11. — It is not China for 1872. p. 106. 



wholly devoid of yellow colouring matter. ^ From information communicated by 



- A good deal is exported from Takow in Air. Binnendyk, of the Botanical Garden, 



Formosa, but mostly to Chinese poi-ts. — Buitenzorg, Java. 



