Native turmeric facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Native turmeric |
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| Curcuma australasica, native turmeric. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Curcuma
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| Species: |
australasica
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Curcuma australasica, also known as the native turmeric or Cape York lily, is a special plant from the ginger family. It's a type of plant that grows from underground stems called rhizomes. These plants are herbaceous, meaning they have soft stems instead of woody ones, and they are perennial, which means they live for more than two years.
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About the Name
The name Curcuma comes from an old Sanskrit word, kuṅkuma, which is the name for turmeric. The second part of its name, australasica, simply means "from Australia."
Where it Grows
Curcuma australasica is the only type of Curcuma plant that grows naturally in Australia. There are over 100 other Curcuma species around the world. You can find native turmeric in Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, in some parts of the Northern Territory, and also in Papua New Guinea. It likes to grow in damp spots in rocky areas, and in wet forests.
What it Looks Like
This plant is usually less than 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) tall. It has long, green leaves that are often pleated, like a fan. Its flowers are about 1.5 to 2 centimeters long and are usually yellow. They grow on a tall spike with colorful parts called bracts, which can be pink, red, purple, or green. Sometimes, you might even find a rare white version of the flower!
Growing Native Turmeric
People often grow native turmeric in pots because its flowers are very beautiful and last a long time. You can grow new plants by dividing the underground stems. This plant likes a lot of water in the summer, but it prefers to be drier in the winter. This matches the monsoon weather patterns in the places where it naturally grows.
A special type of this plant, called "Aussie Plume," is grown in the United States. It can grow very tall, almost 2 meters (6 feet) high! It is also grown for its flowers in Zimbabwe.
Traditional Uses
Aboriginal people in the Cape York Peninsula area have a name for this plant in the Gugu Yimithirr language: kumbigi. They traditionally cooked and ate the underground stems (rhizomes) of this plant.
Conservation Status
The native turmeric plant is very common and widespread in Queensland. It has not been officially evaluated by the IUCN Red List, which tracks how endangered plants and animals are.
