Botanical Name: Curcuma longa

Appearance:

• Leaves: Turmeric has large, lance-shaped green leaves that grow directly from the rhizome (underground stem). The leaves resemble those of ginger, though they are larger.
• Flowers: The plant produces yellow or purple flowers, which grow in dense, cone-shaped spikes. The flowers are often hidden beneath the leaves and are not as commonly used as the rhizomes.
• Rhizomes: The underground rhizomes are the most important part of the plant. They are typically yellow-orange on the inside, and once harvested, they can be dried and ground into the familiar turmeric powder.