1080

 Curcuma  zanthorrhiza Roxb.

Family	:	Zingiberaceae
Local name	:	Malayalam-Kachuri kizhangu
Flowering and fruiting period	:	April-July
Distribution	:	Cultivated and naturalized throughout India and S. E. Asia.
Distribution in Kerala	:	Palakkad, Idukki, Kottyam, Thrissur
Habitat	:	It grows in shady places along the margins of forests at high altitudes
Uses	:	Fresh  root is considered to be cooling and diuretic
Key botanical characters: Rhizome 5-8 x 7-9 cm, broadly ovoid, with smell of camphor, yellow to deep yellow inside. Leafy shoots 80-100 cm tall. Leaves petiolate. Lamina 40-60 x 15-20 cm, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, purple coloured patch on the upper side along the whole length of the midrib .Inflorescence lateral; peduncle 20-25 cm; spike 15-18 x 8-10 cm, with a distinct coma. Coma bracts dark pink. Fertile bracts 20-25 in number, 5 x 4 cm, ovate, green, with pink margin. Bracteoles 1.5-2 x 0.5-1 cm, white, inner smaller. Flowers almost equal to the bracts, 4-5 in each bract.