Curcuma parviflora

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. It grows 30-40 cm high. There are 3-5 leaves. The are oval and long and up to 23 cm long by 8 cm wide. The leaf stalk is smooth and 10 cm long. The flower arrangement is cylindrical and at the end of the shoot. It is 6 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The bracts are like pouches and join together for half their length. They are 3 cm long by 1-1.2 cm wide. Each bract surrounds two flowers. The flowers are 1.5 cm long. The fruit is a capsule which is long and oval.

There are about 50 Curcuma species. They are mostly in SE Asia.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in shady deciduous forests.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

Young leaves are served blanched and with chili sauce. The flowers are boiled and eaten with shrimp paste and chili sauce.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Dork grajeaw, Krachieo khaao, Mai-ta-raw-thing, Phu-ya-bawmg

Synonyms

Hitcheniopsis parviflora (Wall.) Loes.;