East Indian arrowroot

Curcuma angustifolia Dalzell & A.Gibson

Curcuma angustifolia is a species of the genus Curcuma in the Zingiberaceae family. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, including Assam, Bangladesh, China Southeast, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, and West Himalaya. Commonly known as East Indian arrowroot, it is used in various cultural contexts across the Eastern hemisphere.

Description

Curcuma angustifolia is one of over 80 species in the genus Curcuma. It is found in regions such as Assam, Bangladesh, China Southeast, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, and West Himalaya. Known as East Indian arrowroot in English, it also has several local names, including 'yaipan' in Manipuri, 'Aipah' in Thadou-Kuki, 'tikhur' in Bhojpuri, 'Koova' in Malayalam/Tamil, and 'Kutupah' in Poula. The plant is an important part of cultural practices in the Eastern hemisphere.