![Grow Organic [GROW ORGANIC] [Hardcover]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51qvzQDXWLL._SL75_.jpg)
What's in A Name?
Monday, October 11, 2010 at 7:12PM | Share Article Do you remember Act II Scene II of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?
By Ford Madox Brown (1821–1893) Date of birth/death 16 April 1821(1821-04-16) 6 October 1893(1893-10-06) Location of birth/death Calais London Work location London, Paris, Rom, Manchester [public domain], from Wikimedia Commons
Juliet: What's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
But what would Juliet have said about tulips? By any other name, would they smell as sweet or would they smell like ginger? Conversely, could ginger that looked like a tulip be named such?
Above is my Curcuma specimen. Curcuma is a genus of Zingiberaceae or the ginger family. In fact its name is from the Arabic "kurkum" meaning turmeric. I'm not sure though if the tuber of my Curcuma is edible. In any case, even if it is edible the plant is too beautiful to end up in a wok as a stir fried dish.
This particular specimen is the Curcuma alismatifolia. It is known as the Siam Tulip (Chiangmai Pink). It wasn't labeled as such when I bought it, so please correct me if I am wrong. They come from Indochina and Southeast Asia, mainly Thailand, hence its common name.
Most noticeable is the pale pink inflorescence with green or brown tips which slightly resembles a tulip.
See the flowers arising from the axils of the bract in white and violet.
The flowers are hidden and overshadowed by the bract but I think they are just as beautiful.
My Curcumas are exposed to direct sunlight the whole morning. They love to be watered everyday. I fertilize them with slow release all purpose fertilizer and they seem to respond well.
Curcumas wilt and disappear after the onset of the dry season and regrow once the rains come. During the dry season the tubers lie dormant underground.
Unlike the love affair of Romeo and Juliet whose demise was tragic and permanent, my love affair with my Curcuma blossoms and will continue to blossom every year.
Reader Comments (8)
Im surprised to discover that your monday blog post and mine are quite related. I'm actually looking for Siam Tulip for our garden. Where did you get yours?
As for the Red Jade vine, you can buy it at Manila Seedling Bank.
Is very surprising to know that they are edible. I have seen them around here some times, they always look very pretty, i could never imagine you can eat them.
Mine, I am still placing the plant in the shelter with bright indirect light as I cannot find a place for morning sun only. One question, would the rain break the leaves? I am afraid to put the plant out in the open as we have torrential rain and the open space in my garden receives full sun.
Btw, you took really nice shots of the plant.
@~fer: This particular species isn't edible. At least, I don't think so. You are right. They are too beautiful for anyone to want to eat them.
@Stephanie: If I'm not mistaken there are several variants. I think this is Chiangmai Pink because of the green/brown tips and pale pink color of the bracts.
I don't know this ginger, but sadly, the ones I grow seem to be dying out.
Beautiful images, happy to have found you on Blotanical. Love the name of your blog, and the design.
You must be very tech-savvy;-]
Alice
aka Bay Area Tendrils
I wish I could claim to be tech-savvy but unfortunately, I'm not. My wife handles most of the technical stuff. Lucky me!