Kencur (Kaempferia galanga)

Kencur (Kaempferia galanga) is a plant species in Zingiberaceae, annual terna, low basal stem, approximately 20 cm, growing in clumps in the lowlands or mountains that do not require much water and are widely cultivated for tubers as spices and stimulants.

K. galanga has leaves attached to the ground surface. The leaves are arranged as a root rozet or alternately on the stem, wake lancet and pinnate or parallel bone. The leaf stalks turn into split midribs which sometimes have tongue and pseudo stem which are immersed in the ground, 1.5-3.5 cm long and white.

The number of leaves is no more than 2-3 strands, green with brownish red and wavy edges. Oval-shaped leaves wide to round, 7-15 cm long, 2-8 cm wide, pointed tip, curved base, smooth edge and smooth haired lower surface. A large pulse makes a ditch in the middle.

Single flower, 2.5-5 cm long, half seated and asymmetrical. Stamens have a length of 4 mm and are yellow. Pistil white or purplish white. The crown has a dominant white color. Haous pistil stems in a groove of stamens. Fruit will sink, has 3 chambers or 1 basal or parietal placenta that supports many ovaries.

Yellow fiber roots, short brown rhizomes, finger-shaped and blunt, the outside is shiny and has a specific aroma, the inside is white with soft flesh and not fibrous. The swollen Rizoma is like a tuber with thick roots and often has spaces filled with oil.

Kencur grows at an altitude of 50-700 m, temperature 20-30C, rainfall 1500-4000 mm/year with 5-9 months wet and 5-6 months dry, good soil drainage, texture of clay to sandy clay loam, less land slope of 3%, pH 5.5 to 6.5 and an open place that gets full sun, but requires a light shade.

K. galanga is widely cultivated for harvesting tubers which are processed as fresh drinks, cooking spices and natural dyes. Rhizome is also to treat coughs, itching in the throat, flatulence, nausea, colds, aches, tetanus and the cosmetics industry.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Kaempferia
Species: Kaempferia galanga
Varieties: Kaempferia galanga var. galanga, Kaempferia galanga var. latifolia

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