Temu kunci (Boesenbergia rotunda)

Temu kunci (Boesenbergia rotunda) is a species in the Zingiberaceae, grows upright up to 50 cm, vertical roots, spices and rhizomes are used as seasonings in cooking, grows in rain forests, slopes, agricultural land and wastelands up to elevation 1000 meters.

B. rotunda has a strong rhizome, bright yellow, elongated ovoid and very flavorful. Each individual has 3-4 leaves, the midrib is red, the ligula has 2 indentations and is 5 mm long.

The petioles are 7-16 cm long and form a linear canal. Leaves green on both surfaces, elliptical pointed tip, 25-50 cm long and 7-12 cm wide.

Terminal compound flowers on pseudo stems, emerging from the midrib, 3-7 cm long and fragrant. Tapered sheath with a size of 4-5 cm. Petals 1.5–2 cm and ends split. Crown forms a tube, 4.5-5.5 cm long, lobes 1.5-2 cm long.

Lateral staminodia are pale pink and 1.5 cm long. The labellum is white or bright red with purple stripes, 2–3.5 cm long and concave. Short stamen, 2 branches and 1-3 mm.

Temu Kunci grows wild in the tropics with lowlands and in dense teak forests up to 1000 meters elevation. Flowering January-February and April-June. Grows well in hot and humid climates on fertile soil, good air and water.

This species is used as a spice in the kitchen and traditional medicine which is useful as a sputum laxative or cough suppressant, farting, appetite enhancer, curing canker sores and booster breast milk.

Rhizome essential oil has an effect on the growth of Entamoeba coli, Staphylococus aureus and Candida albicans. In vitro calcium kidney stone dissolving. This plant works as an antibacterial, antiparasitic, treats oral infections, intestinal infections, antioxidants, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and helps obese patients.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Zingiberaceae
Subfamily: Zingiberoideae
Tribe: Zingibereae
Genus: Boesenbergia
Species: Boesenbergia rotunda

Elephant bell gourd (Trichosanthes tricuspidata)

Elephant bell gourd ( Trichosanthes tricuspidata ) is a plant species in the Cucurbitaceae, stems grow elongated to propagate or climb, many branches, cylindrical in shape and green in color. T. cochinchinensis has stem tips or branches that twist to attach themselves to a support or other plant. It grows to climb to cover a support, usually on another plant, up to several meters and creeps along the ground to reach another support. Arrow-shaped leaves, split base, sharp apex and two wings at an acute angle, have many veins ending at a sharp edge, green and have a long petiole. Single flower is white. The fruit is round to oval, ends with a tail, young green and turns red with maturity, thin skin, thick flesh and reddish yellow, has a short stalk and hangs. The seeds are in the middle of the fruit. Seeds are white, oval and flat. Black coated seeds. Elephant bell gourd grows wild in primary and secondary forests, agricultural land, roadsides, watersheds, especially on slopes, damp a

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