A. Turmeric Plant
Turmeric plant appear from the top of the false stem, which is about 10–15 cm long and white in color. The root tuber is dark yellow in color, smells aromatic, and tastes slightly sweet. The main part of the turmeric plant is the rhizome, which is in the ground.
The turmeric plant is a medicinal plant in the form of a bush and is perennial. The turmeric plant grows abundantly and wildly around forests and former gardens. It is estimated to originate from Binar at an altitude of 1300–1600 m above sea level.
Turmeric, which has the Latin name Curcuma domescita Val., is a plant that is easy to propagate using rhizome cuttings measuring 20–25 grams. The rhizome seeds must be quite old. Turmeric grows well in soil with good irrigation and rainfall of 2,000 mm to 4,000 mm every year and in a slightly protected place. Turmeric leaves are yellow to orange-yellow. Turmeric is one of the original spices and medicinal plants.
The turmeric plant grows on branches with a height of 40–100 cm. The stem is a false stem, erect, round, forms a rhizome with a yellowish green color, and is composed of leaf sheaths (rather soft). A single leaf, oval in shape (lanceolate), extends to 10–40 cm, is 8–12.5 cm wide, and has pinnate spines with a pale green color. The flowers are hairy and sided, and the shoots are false stems, 10-15 cm long with a crown of about 3 cm and 1.5 cm wide, white or yellowish in color. The tip is brownish, and the flesh is yellowish-orange-red.
B. Classification of Turmeric Plants
Division : Spermatophyta
Subdivision : Angiosperms
Class : Monocotyledoneae
Order : Zingiberales
Family : Zungiberaceae
Genus : Curcuma
Species : Curcumadomectica Val.
C. Morphology of Turmeric Plants
The turmeric plant grows on branches with a height of 40–100 cm. The stem is a false stem, erect, round, forms a rhizome with a yellowish green color, and is composed of leaf sheaths (rather soft). A single leaf, oval in shape (lanceolate), extends to 10–40 cm, is 8–12.5 cm wide, and has pinnate spines with a pale green color. The flowers are hairy and sided, and the shoots are false stems, 10-15 cm long with a crown of about 3 cm and 1.5 cm wide, white or yellowish in color. The tip is brownish, and the flesh is yellowish-orange-red.
1. stick
Turmeric has a false stem, which is composed of petals or leaf midribs that cover each other. Turmeric stems are wet because they are able to store water well and are round and purplish green in color. Turmeric’s height reaches 0.75–1 m.
2.Leaves
Turmeric leaves are composed of leaf midribs, stems, and leaf blades. The length of the leaf blade is between 31 and 83 cm. The width of the leaf is between 10 and 18 cm. The leaves are oval and elongated, with a slightly rough surface. The leaf bones are flat, and the tip is tapered or curved to resemble a tail. The surface of the leaves is light green; one plant has six to ten leaves.
3. Flowers
Turmeric flowers are white or light yellow in the shape of a pointed cone with a white base. Each flower has three wide petals, three petals, and four stamens.
4. Rhizomes
Turmeric rhizomes branch out to form rhizomes. The rhizomes are elliptical and form rhizome branches in the form of stems that are in the ground. Turmeric rhizomes consist of the main rhizome, or turmeric tuber, and shoots or branches of the rhizome. This main rhizome is usually grown by shoots that grow downward along side edges, whether horizontal or curved. The number of shoots is generally high, reaching 10.85 cm.
5. Chemical Compound Content
The main chemical compound contained in turmeric is curcuminoid, or dye, which is 2.5–6%. The curcumin pigment is what gives the rhizome its yellow-orange color. One of the fractions contained in curcuminoid is curcumin. Chemical components contained in the rhizome of turmeric include essential oils, starch, bitter substances, resin, cellulose, and several minerals. The essential oil content of turmeric is around 3–5%.