Common Name:

General Information

Curcuma caulina is a herbaceous perennial plant producing a cluster of erect, unbranched, leafy stems up to 120cm tall from an underground rhizome[].
Although formerly used locally as a source of 'arrowroot starch', nowadays it is not normally economic to prepare starch commercially from this plant, although the crop can yield a high quality starch, and it could be of value in high rainfall areas to prevent soil erosion[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - western India.

Habitat

Forests[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of moist to wet areas in the hot tropics, growing best in monsoonal areas where the mean annual rainfall can be more than 5,000mm[].
Requires moist conditions, often being grown along the banks of irrigation canals[]. Plants in this genus generaly prefer a humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade[].
For maximum yields of starch a 2 year rotation should be practiced with the tubers being harvested when they are 20-24 months old[].

Edible Uses

The tubers yield a white edible starch, which has sometimes been used as a substitute for arrowroot starch[]. These tubers are normally the size of an orange with a white flesh, and covered with fibrous roots[]. The tubers have a starch content of 10.9 - 18.3% (fresh weight basis). On average the tubers yield about 13% starch, 60% of which is of superior quality and very similar to that of arrowroot[]. The harvested tubers are washed and the fibrous roots removed, after which the cleaned tubers are grated and the resultant pulp washed thoroughly, sieved and then re-washed, and the starch allowed to settle out. It is then sun-dried[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be grown very densely along the sides of rivers and irrigation canals in order to prevent soil erosion - in some areas a density of up to 50,000 plants per hectare is used[].

Other Uses

It has been suggested that the leaves could be used for papermaking[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Germinates best at temperatures around 20°c[].
Cuttings of the rhizomes[]. Traditionally, these are planted in raked soil at the beginning of the monsoon, frequently in arecanut plantations and on the banks of rivers and irrigation channels[].

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