1088

 Curcuma caesia Roxb.

Synonym	:	Curcuma kuchoor Royle
Family	:	Zingiberaceae
Local name	:	English - Black Turmeric Malayalam -
Distribution	:	Native to North-East and Central India
Uses	:	It is used in treating Piles, Leprosy, Bronchitis, Asthma, Cancer, Epilepsy, Fever, Wounds, Impotency, Fertility, Menstrual disorders, tooth ache, vomiting etc.
Key botanical characters: Rhizome internally deep blue, bitter in taste. Leaf Lamina oblong lanceolate, green with prominent red patch along the whole length of midrib, sessile, ligule 2 mm long, obscurely bilobed. Inflorescence lateral. Spike c. 10-15 x 6-7 cm. Fertile bracts green with red tinge, coma bracts deep pink. Flowers 5 cm long. Corolla lobes deep pink. Lateral staminodes yellow. Labellum yellow, emarginate.