Bark
Rhizomatous herbs
Curcuma aeruginosa
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
(LC)
Local name
- Pink and blue ginger (English)
- Karimanjal (Malayalam)
Herb type
Evergreen
Deciduous
Family: Zingiberaceae
1m
Indicated uses
Medicinal
Edible
Ornamental
Avenue
Other
Flowering & fruiting
Flowering
Fruiting
Key characters
Leaves
Leaves distichous, 30-40 x 10-12 cm, oblong-lanceolate, tip acute, base acuminate, glabrous purple or reddish-brown patch.
Flower
Flowers 4.5-5 cm, equal to or slightly shorter than the bracts.
Fruit / Seeds
rhizome, 5-6 x 9-10 cm, blue in the centre, merging towards grey, the blue colour is highly variable with age of the rhizome, strongly aromatic; sessile tubers branched.
Did you know?
aeruginosa literally translates to “verdigris” or “copper rust.” Unlike common turmeric’s deep orange center, the rhizome of this plant features a striking, vibrant greenish-blue ring inside a dark core.
Distribution
Bangladesh to Peninsula Malaysia, Jawa, India