Pale turmeric
Curcuma heyneana
Family: Zingiberaceae
What it is like
A ginger family herb. It grows 70 cm tall. The rhizomes are branched and pal yellow outside and white inside with a yellow centre. It has an aroma. The leaves are narrowly oval and 18-42 cm long by 8-13 cm wide. The flowers are in dense spikes. These are cylinder shaped and from a stalk from the base. The bracts are narrowly oval and pale green. The flowers are tube shaped and white to pink with a yellow centre. The fruit is an oval capsule. The seeds are shiny and light brown.
There are about 50 Curcuma species. They are mostly in SE Asia.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in secondary forests and open places in teak forests up to 750 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Indonesia (country/location of origin), SE Asia
How it is used for food
It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Rhizome
How it is grown
Plants can be grown by division of the rhizome.
Its other names
Local names
Temu giring