Turmeric

The plant of Turmeric is a herbaceous perennial, which is 60 -90 cm high. It has a short stem. It has large leaves oblong and up to turmeric-plantone meter long. Flowers of the turmeric appear on a spike like the stalk. Its flowers are yellow white in colour. They are sterile and donot produce viable seed. The lamina is green above and pale green below, and is 30 -40 cm long and 8 -12 cm wide. Approximately 30 flowers are produced in a spike. Inflorescence is a central spike of 10 -15 cm in length. Its pant looks like the ginger pant.

• Turmeric is used as condiment in every Indian household.
• It is used as a colouring matter for foodstuffs.
• The yellow dye obtained from turmeric is used for dyeing cotton, silk, wool, paper etc.
• It has medicinal properties and is used for external application against pain and wounds and internally as stimulant.
• It is used in the preparation of cosmetics and Ayurvedic medicines.
• It has religious value and is used in various functions and festivals.
• It is used for preparation of kum-kum, bookha etc.
• It is important cash crop and gives valuable foreign exchange t country.