Seed Production of Vegetable, Tuber and Spice Crops (2+1)

Botany

• It is an herbaceous perennial with a thick under ground rhizome giving rise to primary and secondary rhizomes called fingers.
  
• The leaves are broad with long leaf stalks.
  
• The flowers are borne on separated peduncle arising directly from the rhizome.
  
• There are four important species of Curcuma.
  
• They are
  
1. Curcuma longa, the widely cultivated type
2. C. aromatica, the Cochin turmeric or kasturi manjal
3. C. angustifolia, East Indian Arrow root having plenty of starch in its rhizome and
4. C. amada, mango ginger, which has the taste and flavour of raw mango.