Botanical Name : Curcuma longa Linn Family : Zingiberaceae, The Ginger Family
Extents
Turmeric/Haldi is extensively cultivated in South East Asia. In India, the main trading center for Turmeric is Sangli in Maharashtra. Sangli is also the most important turmeric trading center in the entire world.
Turmeric Plant
Turmeric plant is a perennial plant which grows to a height of about 3 to 5 feet and has deep orange roots or tubers. The leaves are long, smooth uniform green and tapering at each end. Rhizomes or root tubers are powdered to obtain turmeric powder.
Turmeric Plant is a perennial plant which grows to a height of about 3 to 5 feet and has deep orange roots or tubers. The leaves are long, smooth uniform green and tapering at each end. Rhizomes or root tubers are powdered to obtain turmeric powder.
Propagation of Turmeric plant is done through root cuttings. The cuttings have parallel rings with a yellow shade on the outside and reddish brown on the inside.
Composition of Turmeric
The turmeric plant contains a yellowish coloring matter called Curcumin, an acrid volatile oil, starch, chlorides of calcium, woody fiber and gum. The acrid oil is called turmerol and has an aromatic odor. Alkaloids of oxalic acid are also present that yield crystals of potassium oxalate.