Curcuma australasica
| Native Turmeric | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Curcuma australasica, Native Turmeric. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| (unranked): | Commelinids |
| Order: | Zingiberales |
| Family: | Zingiberaceae |
| Genus: | Curcuma |
| Species: | C. australasica |
| Binomial name | |
| Curcuma australasica Hook. f. | |
Curcuma australasica, Native Turmeric, or Cape York Lily, is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the Zingiberaceae or ginger family.
Nomenclature
- Curcuma - from the Arabic name for turmeric, kurkum.
- australasica - for Australian.[1]
Description
It occurs on Cape York Peninsula, a few areas in the Northern Territory, Australia, and in Papua New Guinea. There are about 50 species of Curcuma in the world, but C. australasica is the only species native to Australia. It is grown for its flowers in Zimbabwe, and a variety called "Aussie Plume" is grown in the U.S.A which can grow up to 6 ft (1.83 metres) tall.[2]
It is usually less than 500 mm tall, with long green leaves (140-450 x 60–190 mm), pleated. Flowers 15–20 mm., November to March in Queensland, normally yellow on a spike with pink-red-mauve-green bracts. From a capsule within pink-purple bracts.[3] Occasionally a white form is found in the wild - see accompanying photograph.
The Aboriginal Gugu Yimithirr language name is kumbigi. They ate the roots after roasting. A very beautiful, long-lasting flower found in moist pockets in sandstone areas and in wet woodland and forest areas. Propagate by division. Keep well-watered in summer and dry in winter. Grows well in containers[4][5]
IUCN Red List status: not evaluated,[6] but very common and widespread in Queensland.
A medicine called Curcumall, an extract of turmeric and curcumin, was developed by an Israeli biochemist, Dr. Menahem Rabinovich.
Footnotes
References
- Beasley. John (2009). Plants of Cape York: The Compact Guide. John Beasley. ISBN 978-0-9806863-0-2.
- Scarth-Johnson, Vera. (2000). National Treasures: Flowering plants of Cooktown and Northern Australia. Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery Association. ISBN 0-646-39726-5 (paperback); 0646397257 (hardback; leather bound.