Black zedoary
Curcuma caesia

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. It keeps growing from year to year. The rhizome is bluish-black. It grows 2-6 m long. The plant grows 1 m tall. The leaves are in groups of 10-20 and are broadly sword shaped. The flowers are 15-20 cm long in a spike. The flowers develop before the leaves.

It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Queen Sirikit BG.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, India, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The fresh rhizome is occasionally used as a spice.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Rhizome - spice, root, flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from the rhizome.

Its other names

Local names

Chong-ut, Kalacheng, Kala-haldi, Krishna kedar, Nalla pasupi, Yaingang amuba

Synonyms

Curcuma kuchoor Royle; Curcuma malabarica Velay., Amalraj & Mural.;