Curcuma L.

	Curcuma australasica Photo: © M. Fagg, Australian National Botanic Gardens

rose turmeric, jewel of Burma, hidden lily

Curcuma alismatifolia Gagnep.²

C. amada Roxb.

C. elata Roxb.

C. gracillima Gagnep.

C. petiolata Roxb. (=C. cordata Wallich)

C. roscoeana Wallich

possibly:

     C. aurantiaca Zijp¹

     C. australasica Hook. f.

India and Malaysia to Australia.

Leafy or leafless stems bearing terminal, conelike spikes with spirally arranged bracts; lower bracts connate halfway up their sides, broad, green, often tinged with red or purple and forming pouches enclosing 2-7 flowers; upper bracts (coma) sterile and brightly colored; calyx synsepalous, split on one side, 2- or 3-toothed; corolla funnelform; 4 petaloid staminodes, of which 2 are lateral and 2 fused into a large lip (labellum); 1 broad fertile stamen; style inserted between locules of anther.

Inflorescence 12-20 cm long; upper colored bracts the most conspicuous feature, sometimes collectively looking flower-like, appressed or spreading, white to pink, purple, and orange; actual flowers most often inconspicuous, but sometimes protruding from the lower bracts, commonly yellow and/or white.

Mimetes

Zimbabwe.