Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe

  • Filed As

    Zingiberaceae
    Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe

  • Collector(s)

    E. D. Merrill 966, Jun 1915

  • Location

    Philippines. Rizal. Luzon, Antipolo.

  • Habitat

    Occurring chiefly in the vicinity of towns.

  • Description

    From this species I have not been able to separate Costus luteus Blanco op. cit. 4 (sp. nov.); 3; 6, on which Roscoea lutea Hassk. in Flora 47 (1864) 21 was based. Blanco’s description is very short and imperfect, practically merely stating that Costus luteus differs from C. nigricans only in that its rhizomes are yellow, that the leaves lack the dark-colored median spot, and that the rhizomes yield a yellow dye. I consider it very probable that it too is but a synonym of Curcuma zedoaria Rosc.

  • Specimen Notes

    [Record databased by volunteers in the DIGIVOL Crowdsourcing Platform. Imported to NYBG database in 2024.]

  • Identifiers

    NY Barcode: 4355490

    Occurrence ID: 21a435d5-3840-4af4-bc63-13fb574d6f59

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Costus nigricans Blanco FI. Filip. (1837) 3 (sp. ndv.); ed. 2 (1845) 3; ed.
3,1 (1877) 5=CURCUMA 2AD0ARIA (Berg.) Rose.
v This species is widely distributed in the Philippines in the
settled areas, occurring chiefly in the vicinity of towns. It is
never cultivated, but nevertheless is certainly a purposely in-
troduced plant in the Archipelago. It is locally very abundant.
¡Costus nigricans Blanco is the whole basis of Roscoea nigro-
ciliata Hassk. in Flora 47 (1864) 21, Hasskarl’s name thus
becoming a synonym of Curcuma zedoana Rose.
: From this species I have not been able to separate Costus luteus
Blanco op. cit. 4 (sp. nov.); 3; 6, on which Roscoea lutea Hassk.
in Flora 47 (1864) 21 was based. Blanco’s description is very
sHbrt and imperfect, practically merely stating that Costus luteus
differs from C. nigricans only in that its rhizomes are yellow,
that the leaves lack the dark-colored median spot, and that the
rhizomes yield a yellow dye. I consider it very probable that
it too is but a synonym of Curcuma zeddaria Rose.
Illustrative specimen from Antipolo, Rizal Province, Luzon,
June, 1915, here known as tamo and as barac, the former cited
by Blanco as one of the native names of Costus luteus, the latter^
as one of the native names of C. nigricans (Merrill: Species
Blancoanae No. 966),
MlX Llil,..	.
SPEC I JETS ttLANGPANAM966
966. Curcuma sedoaria (Berg,) Roso*
Costus nigricans Blanoo
Boscoea nigro-ciliata Hassk.
Costus luteus Blanco
Boscoea lutea Hassle«
.BOTANICAL garden
04355490
04355490