Common Name: Zedoary

General Information

Curcuma zeodaria is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing clumps of erect pseudostems around 75cm tall from an underground rhizome. Each pseudostem comprises around 5 leaves with blades around 35cm long and 13cm wide[].
Zedoary is an important home garden crop in southeast Asia. It probably originated in northeastern India, but has long been cultivated and its origins have become unclear. It is also often grown as an ornamental, and is also sometimes grown commercially as a spice and medicinal plant in the tropics[, , ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - India.

Habitat

Damp, deciduous forests[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.75 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the hot, humid, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 900 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 27°c, but can tolerate 14 - 32°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,100 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 700 - 4,300mm[]. Plants are adapted to growing in areas of seasonal drought in monsoonal forests[].
Prefers a well-drained soil in a shaded position, also succeeding in full sun[, ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7.5[].
Rhizomes can be harvested about 300 days after planting[]

Edible Uses

The leaves resemble lemongrass (Cymbopogon spp) in flavour[]. They are used as a flavouring in a variety of dishes[, ].

Rhizome - raw or cooked[, ].The rhizome provides an easily digested starch, known as 'shoti'. It is used as a component in infant and invalid diets and can be used in similar ways to arrowroot[, , ]. Slices of the young rhizome (taken from the top) can be eaten raw in salads[, ]. The dried rhizome is used as a condiment[].

The hearts of young shoots can be eaten raw or cooked[].

Inflorescences - cooked[].

Medicinal

The rhizome contains a number of medically active substances including an essential oil, sesquiterpenes, curcumemone, curcumol and curdione[]. Curcumol and curdione have shown anti-cancer properties[]. The rhizome is an aromatic, bitter, digestive stimulant that can be used in much the same way as ginger[].

The rhizome is taken internally to improve the digestion and to treat a range of digestive disorders including indigestion, nausea, flatulence and bloating[, ]. It is used in China to treat cervical cancer[]. Young parts of the rhizome are chewed as a treatment for bad breath[].
Applied externally, the rhizome is used to clean and cure ulcers, wounds and other skin disorders[].

In Chinese herbal medicine, the rhizome is often used as a substitute for turmeric (C. Longa)[].

Other Uses

An essential oil obtained from the rgizome is used in perfumery and for a range of medicinal preparations[, ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe[]. Germinates best at temperatures around 20°c[].
Division of the rhizome when the plant is dormant.

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