Volume 16 > Part 2 > Year 2023 > Page 422 > Zingiberaceae > Curcuma

4. Curcuma angustifolia Roxb.wfo-0000365429

Asiat. Res. 11: 338. 1810.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Rhizome branched, main rhizome ovoid, 3–5 by 3–4 cm, branches very short, internally pale brown to white. Leafy shoot 20–70 cm tall; bladeless sheaths 2–3, 5–15 cm long, puberulent; leaf sheaths 10–40 cm long, puberulent; ligule bilobed, 2 mm long, puberulent; blades narrowly elliptic, 25–60 by 3–6.5 cm, glabrous or pubescent on both surfaces, base attenuate, apex acuminate; petiole 10 cm long or none, glabrous or hairy. Inflorescence lateral, often emerging before or simultaneously with leafy shoot, or central (later in season); peduncle 5–20 cm long, hairy; thyrse 10–12 cm long; fertile bracts ovate to obovate with obtuse to rounded apex, 2.5–4 by 1.5–2.5 cm, cream-white to green, often with pink to red tinge especially towards apex, glabrous or hairy; coma bracts more elliptic with obtuse to acute apex, 3–4 by 0.7–1 cm, green to cream-white at base, gradually to deep pink towards apex, puberulent on both surfaces; bracteoles triangular with obtuse to acute apex, 0.8–1 by 0.3–0.8 cm, semitranslucent white, often with pink tinge towards apex, sparsely hairy or glabrous. Flower gullet type; ovary barrel-shaped, 2–3 mm long, hairy; epigynous glands cylindrical or clavate, 3–4 mm long, apex obtuse; stigma 1 mm diam., ostiole front-facing, ciliate; calyx 7–8 mm long, apex tridentate, with unilateral incision 3–4 mm long or not, with ridges from base of each lobe ending in small, beak-like structures just below apex of lobe, semitranslucent white, or with pink tinge towards apex, glabrous or pubescent; floral tube 2–2.5 cm long, glabrous externally, internally hairy, corolla lobes 0.6–1 by 0.5–1 cm, white with more or less dense pink to red tinge, glabrous, dorsal corolla lobe hooded, mucronate, glabrous with few hairs at apex, lateral corolla lobes shallowly concave, apex rounded; lateral staminodes obovate with rounded or truncate apex, 1–1.2 by 0.4–0.7 cm, pale yellow to yellow, with short glandular hairs at middle of apical half; labellum obscurely trilobed, 1–1.3 by 1.2–1.3 cm, mid-lobe emarginate, pale yellow to yellow, usually with somewhat darker median band, hairy at base and along either side of median band; stamen: filament 1–2.5 by 3–4 mm, glabrous or sparsely short hairy; anther spurred, 3–4 by 2 mm, glabrous, spurs triangular, 1–2 mm long, pointing downwards, apex acuminate, anther crest absent. Fruit not seen.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Kamphaeng Phet, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phitsanulok, Tak; NORTH-EASTERN: Khon Kaen, Loei, Phetchabun; EASTERN: Chaiyaphum, Kalasin, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chanthaburi; CENTRAL: Lop Buri, Nakhon Sawan, Saraburi; SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi; PENINSULAR: Chumphon, Surat Thani.

Distribution : India (type), Myanmar, China, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia.

Ecology : Open areas in deciduous forests and grasslands, at roadsides and sometimes in partial shade. Flowering: April–October.

Vernacular : Krachiao daeng (กระเจียวแดง).

Uses: Young inflorescences are eaten as a vegetable. Medicinally, this species is used to relieve pruritus.

Notes: This is the smallest species of subgen. Curcuma and is highly variable with a wide distribution range. Although called C. angustifolia here, numerous herbarium specimens are determined to C. plicata Wall. ex Baker and it is not certain that Thai material matches the type of C. angustifolia which was collected in India. Further research on living material in India is required and may lead to a name change in Thailand.