CURCUMA LONGA. 



41 



Natural order Umbelliferce. A slender annual. Leaves twice or thrice 3-partite, fruit cy- 

 lindric, with the secondary ridges usually hispidulous. 



The only statements I can find relating to the cultivation of this plant in these 

 Provinces are in the Gazetteers of the Agra and Farukhabad districts. In the former 353 

 acres are said to be occupied by this crop, and in the latter district 168 acres. In all 

 probability some other plant must be intended. The fruits are much used, however, 

 both as a spice and as a medicine, and are largely imported from over the North-West 

 frontier. Aitchison says that they are sent from Lahoul via Kulu. According 

 to Bentley and Trimen this plant is supposed to be a native of some part of Western 

 Asia, but it can hardly be said to be known in a wild state. It has been cultivated 

 from earliest times in the countries bordering the Mediterranean, Malta and Sicily 

 affording the chief supply. It is alluded to in Isaiah, Chap. XXVIII., and Matt., 

 Chap. XXIII. 



The fruits resemble those of caraway, but they are larger, and of a paler colour, 

 and on each half fruit there are nine instead of five ridges. 



Dr. Dymock states that the fruit is much used by Hindus as a condiment, and that 

 it is regarded as stomachic, carminative and astringent ; it is prescribed for chronic 

 diarrhoea and dyspepsia, and is also used externally to allay pain and irritation. 



Sufed zira is sold in the Saharanpur bazar at 2^ seers for the rupee. 



CURCUMA LONGA, Roxb.* 



{Vide Plate LXXVII]. 



Turmeric ; haldi (Hind.) ; haridra, nisa (Sans.). 



Natural order Scitaminece. A perennial herbaceous plant with elongated tuberous roots. 

 Flowers yellow, arranged in spikes, each in the axil of a large greenish or purplish red bract. The 

 summit of the spike is composed of the empty bracts which are white tinged with pink. 



Dr. Watt, in his Dictionary article on turmeric remarks : — 



" Although there is a Sanskrit name for the plant, and also names for it in most of the lang- 

 cl uages of India, the suggestion may be offered that it is most probably a Chinese or Cochin- 

 " Chinese species, which may have superseded some of the indigenous Curcumas formerly in use, 

 " and wbich bore the names now given to this plant, just as the true arrowroot plant is rapidly dis- 

 " placing the indigenous or East Indian species." 



Haldi is extensively grown all over India. From the rhizomes is prepared the well- 

 known condiment used chiefly in curries, and a dye is also extracted from them, but it 



• References :— Koxb., Fl. Ind. (Clarke's Ed.). 11 ; Watt, Diet. Econom. Prod., II., 659 ; Royle, 111. Him. Bot, 358 . 

 Stewart, Punj. PI., 238 ; Buck, Econom. Prod., N.-W. Prov., III., 20 ; Atkinson, Econom. Prod., N.-W. Prov.. V., 33 ; Him.' 

 Dist., I., 706, 734, 774 ; Uatten, Stat. Sketch of Kuraaun, 28 ; Bent, and Trimen, Med. PI., 269. 



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