Curcuma latifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Curcuma latifolia, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Zingiberales and the family Zingiberaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Curcuma.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the vast landscapes of the Indian Subcontinent. Within this region, it can be found growing naturally in the diverse ecosystems of India. Furthermore, its presence extends across borders into the country of Bangladesh. These specific locations define the core geographical range where the species thrives. Consequently, its habitat is closely tied to the environmental conditions found in these South Asian territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Curcuma latifolia is characterized by its existence as a geophyte, a life form where the plant's survival and regenerative capacity are centered in underground storage organs. Throughout its life cycle, the plant relies on its specialized rhizomes to endure unfavorable environmental conditions, such as periods of drought or seasonal temperature fluctuations, by remaining dormant beneath the soil surface. During the favorable growing season, the plant emerges from these subterranean structures to develop its distinctive foliage and reproductive organs. This geophytic strategy allows it to efficiently exploit nutrient-rich soil and moisture, transitioning from a period of metabolic dormancy to a phase of vigorous vegetative growth and eventual flowering, before retreating back into its rhizomatous state to await the next optimal cycle.

Life form :

geophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Curcuma latifolia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, functioning as a self-supporting plant without the need for climbing structures. It is an independent species that does not exhibit parasitic behavior, nor does it function as an epiphyte, as it maintains a strictly terrestrial lifestyle. While its habitat can range across various moisture levels, it is categorized within the terrestrial spectrum rather than being strictly aquatic or semiaquatic. As a herb, it lacks any woody tissue, possessing a soft, succulent structure typical of its botanical classification.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Curcuma latifolia has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Zederone.

Zederone

1. Heliyon