Curcuma australasica

Curcuma australasica, the native turmeric, wild turmeric, or Cape York lily, is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the Zingiberaceae or ginger family.

Description

An evergreen ginger family herb. It re-grows each year from the underground fleshy rootstock. It grows to 0.5 m tall and spreads to 0.5 m wide. The stems are erect and flowering. The leaves are light green and large and like a spade. They are 25-70 cm long by 9-15 cm wide. They point upwards and are pleated and narrow towards the base. The leaves are thin textured. The stalk is fleshy and 20 cm long. The flowers are yellow with large bright pink bracts. They occur in clusters of 3-5 in the base of each bract. The lower flowers are green and fertile while the upper ones are pink and sterile. These flowers are in spikes 12-15 cm long. The fruit is a thin walled 3 celled capsule. The seeds are enclosed in papery bracts.

Edible Uses

The rhizome and roots are traditionally roasted and eaten.

Traditional Uses

The roots are roasted and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The plant has been used as a contraceptive.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It prefers well drained soil in a protected heavily shaded position. They can grow in the sun. It needs a wet summer and a dry winter. It is drought and frost tender. It grows naturally in sandstone country on the fringe of monsoon forests near streams. It needs an alkaline pH. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 8-12. Coffs Harbour Botanical Gardens.

Where It Grows

Australia*, Britain, Cuba, Europe, Indonesia, Micronesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia, West Indies, Yap,

Cultivation

Plants are grown by division of the clump. They can also be grown from seed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Germinates best at temperatures around 20°c. Division of the rhizome when the plant is dormant.

Production

In Australia, plants flower in November to April and fruit in April.

Notes

The plant has been used as a contraceptive. There are about 50 Curcuma species. They are mostly in SE Asia.

Nutrition

Also Known As

Anngarranjngarranj, Curcuma

References (18)

• Beasley, J., 2011, Plants of Tropical North Queensland - the compact guide. Footloose publications. p 77
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 308
• Brock, J., 1993, Native Plants of Northern Australia, Reed. p 131
• Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 151, 198
• Cribb, A.B. & J.W., 1976, Wild Food in Australia, Fontana. p 148

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