Curcuma

Language:

French

Curcuma aromatica Salisb. © Flora of China

Botanical classification

Curcuma aromatica Salisb.

Order:

Zingiberales

Family:

Zingiberaceae

Plant growing area

Curcuma aromatica occurs wild and cultivated mainly in Indo-Malesian region.

Bhutan, Burma, China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Xizang/Tibet, Yunnan, Zhejiang), India, Nepal, Sri Lanka.

It grows between 700-1100m and needs temperatures between 20 °C and 30 °C and a considerable amount of water.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China, Japan, Korea.

Plant cultivation and use

Curcuma aromatica is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant. The foliage dies down in late autumn and the rhizomes remain dormant in winter. During summer monsoon season, the plant grows fast and can reach a height of about 40 cm tall.

Curcuma aromatica is used as a culinary ingredient, dye, cosmetic and herbal medicine with strong antibiotic properties.

The rhizome contains an essential oil and curcumin, a polyphenol, which is the active substance.

Curcumin is a pH indicator: in acidic solutions it turns yellow, whereas in basic solutions it turns red.

Turmeric has always had a symbolic place in the ceremonies and religious uses in India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pacific islands (marriage, birth, initiation, death ...). In particular, it is used for dyeing in yellow the dress of the Buddhist monks. It makes a poor fabric dye, as it fades with exposure to sunlight; however, it is commonly used in Indian clothing.

Preparation process for making paper

When harvesting the lateral rhizomes are taken to be cut into pieces and serve for replanting. The plants are gathered annually. They can be used fresh or prepared as a powder. In that instance, they must be boiled for several hours, then peeled from their skin and dried in the sun or in an oven. After complete drying they will be ground into powder. Fresh, they are crushed into a paste for immediate use.

Mordants used are aluminum (orange-yellow), iron (brown-black).

China:

Harvesting takes place when the leaves wilt, when the plant is about 1 year old.

The rhizomes are boiled and then dried in the sun.

They are ground into powder when they are dry or in paste when they are fresh for immediate use.

Japan:

To extract the dye, the plant is immerged in alcohol.

Dyeing of papers is performed in two ways: pulp dyeing (sukizome) or sheet dyeing (hitashizome by dipping or hikizome by brushing).

To dye paper by soaking, the sheets are plucked one by one between two wooden sticks by their small side. This will keep the sheet flat during soaking.

Usually the pulp is dyed in the vat before making the sheet.

Korea:

The roots are boiled and the extract is filtered before using it for dyeing.

The papers are dyed in three ways: dyeing of the pulp (Seonyeombeop), dyeing of the sheet by dipping, brushing and spraying (Huyeombeop ), combination of the both methods (Honyeombeop). Then the paper can be hammered.

Vernacular names

Chinese

Yu jin	郁金

Japanese

Kyouou	きようおう, キョウオウ

Korean

Ganghwang	강황

French

Curcuma

French

Safran des Indes

English

Aromatic turmeric
Wild turmeric
Yellow zeodary

Paper names

In Asia and particularly in China, Korea and Japan, the papers are intended for a wide range of use: Papers for calligraphy and art, Papers for ceremonies, Paper as a medium of exchange, money paper, Papers for making clothes, wall hangings and bedding, Papers for architecture, interior design, Papers for crafts of various kinds, for domestic purposes and leisure. The names assigned to the paper refers to different notions: The material used, The place of production, The method of production, Appearance, Dimensions, Use, The name of an artist or a studio etc.

Used part of the plant:

Root

Use for paper making:

Dye

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Curcuma

Curcuma aromatica Salisb.