Sep 09, 2009
Black Curcuma / Black Turmeric
We have this very delicate small curcuma (barely a foot tall) that produces a completely black rhizome.
It is clearly not temu hitam or curcuma aeruginosa roxb. The temu hitam plant is larger, more robust and the rhizome is only slightly bluish. The leaves of the temu hitam have a purplish spine and the flower is reddish, pinkish.
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The completely black / deep purple rhizome.
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The rhizome before removing the thin skin.
It does not seem to be curcuma caesia or Kali Haldi (click on word for wiki article) which looks like curcuma aeruginosa.
Click for close-up
Anybody knows the scientific name for this curcuma? I have not been able to find any reference to it.
NOTE 22/7/2012 : TWO READERS OF THIS BLOG, ONE FROM HAWAII, AND ANOTHER FROM LANGKAWI, PAK DIN, http://herbwalk-langkawi.com.my/thewalk.html HAVE IDENTIFIED THIS PLANT AS Kaempferia parviflora, A PLANT FOUND IN NORTHERN THAILAND AND USED EXTENSIVELY FOR TRADITIONAL MEDICINE. THANKS TO BOTH FOR HELPING OUT.
THE PLANT WAS FOUND IN A FOREST NEXT TO OUR FARM. WE TAKE NOTE THAT THE FOREST IN QUESTION IS BOUNDED ON THREE SIDES BY FARMS AND ON ONE SIDE BY A FOREST RESERVE. WE CAN ONLY SPECULATE HOW IT WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE FOREST, THOUGH WE MUST ADMIT IT SEEMS EXTREMELY WELL ADAPTED TO THE CONDITIONS LOCALLY AND WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY DISEASE AFFECTING THE SAID PLANT.
15:18 Posted in Blog | Permalink | Comments (8) | Tags: black turmeric, kunyit hitam, temu hitam, kali haldi, curcuma aeruginosa, curcuma caesia
Comments
..Hellow,,,..
I know about this ginger please mail me up..as soon as possible......we will share some information which is confidential....kilangmerjami@gmail.com
Posted by: kilang | Mar 21, 2010
hi,..interested to buy one of your kunyit hitam that you posted on sept 09,2009..how much including a postage cost..i'm from penang.thanks
Posted by: sabri | Jul 08, 2010
Hi Sabri,
sorry, not selling. Still growing them for own use. They are slow growers.
Regards
HS
Posted by: HS | Jul 08, 2010
Hi,
Thanks for posting about this. I'm sure this type of curcuma not classified under "curcuma" genus but still in Zingiberaceae family. If you got to catch a snap of it's flower, can I have one? That was the important key to identify and put them in a right genus. Sorry for my English.. =)
#serisubuh.com
Posted by: Nurul | Nov 12, 2010
Hi, nice posting, i have this plant and up for sale, anyone interested please visit mudah.com, search for Pokok kunyit hitam, i have sold many of it's rhizome and plants, my customer's are very satisfied. Cheers.
Posted by: Noor Alam Sheriff | Nov 22, 2010
Im interested to buy,how to contact you
Posted by: vimal | Jan 20, 2012
Hi
I heard of DQ products for many years but only today found your site. I was especially interested to read about your kunyit hitam esp. the completely black variety. I have also been trying to find it but have only managed to get the temu hitam. I collect ginger plants and have many in my garden.
I presume you won't disclose where you get the black kunyit rhizome right? You have to get it somewhere and not found it in the wild :P
cina
Posted by: cinafong | Jan 13, 2011
Salam DQ,
This kunyit hitam is not a curcuma. It is a Kaempferia (cekor). The scientific name is Kaempferia parviflora
Posted by: Pak Din | Jun 27, 2012
The comments are closed.