Zingiberaceae · Curcuma

Tikhur / East Indian Arrow Root

Curcuma angustifolia

Also known as Travancore Starch

Herb
Habit
Herb
Found in India
Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh & more
Flowering
-ay onwards

Plant Details

Scientific name
Curcuma angustifolia
Genus
Curcuma
Habit
Herb
Distribution
India, Nepal
Found in India
Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
Flowering & fruiting
-ay onwards
Conservation status
Not Evaluated (NE)

Leaf characters

Simple leaf type
Leaf type
SimplerecordedA single, undivided leaf blade.Leaves are typically simple, green, glabrous, and lanceolate, with margins that are entire. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Leaf shape
LanceolaterecordedLong and narrow, tapering to a point, like a lance head.Leaves are typically simple, green, glabrous, and lanceolate, with margins that are entire. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Entire leaf margin
Leaf margin
EntirerecordedA smooth, unbroken edge with no teeth or notches.Leaves are typically simple, green, glabrous, and lanceolate, with margins that are entire. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Leaf surface
GlabrousrecordedSmooth, hairless.Leaves are typically simple, green, glabrous, and lanceolate, with margins that are entire. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Typical of the family

Arrangement
Alternate
Parallel venation leaf character
Venation
Parallel

Characters marked “recorded” are for Tikhur itself; the rest are typical of the Zingiberaceae family.

Flower & fruit characters

Flower colour
WhiterecordedThe corolla is white, and usually grows to be about 1.5–2 cm (0.59–0.79 in) long with glabrous lobes that are also hairy. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Typical of the family

Inflorescence
Spike
Fruit
Capsule

Characters marked “recorded” are for Tikhur itself; the rest are typical of the Zingiberaceae family — flowering plants only.

Local Names

Hindi
Tikhur तिखुर, tikor, tikur
Nepali
बर्खे सर्रो Barkhe Sarro
Bengali
Keturi halodhi
Tamil
Ararutkilangu, Kua, Ararut-kizhangu
Telugu
Ararut-gaddalu
Kannada
Koove-hittu
Malayalam
Koova, Kuva-kizhanna, കൂവ
Marathi
Tavakeera, Tavakhira, Tavakila

About Tikhur

East Indian arrow root (Curcuma angustifolia) is a herb in the Zingiberaceae family. In India it has been recorded in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and 5 other states.

Illustration representing the Zingiberaceae family
Botanical family

Zingiberaceae

Ginger family

Tikhur belongs to the Zingiberaceae family.

The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.

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Common plant problems

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