❖ Researchers have identified a new ‘cousin’ of the turmeric, Curcuma ungmensis in Nagaland.

❖ It belongs to the genus Curcuma (the ginger family Zingiberaceae).

❖ The family Zingiberaceae has 21 genera and about 200 taxa in India.

❖ Curcuma is one of the most important and largest genera of this plant family.

❖ Curcuma longa, black turmeric (Curcuma caesia) and mango ginger (Curcuma amada) are the well-known being turmeric.

❖ In India, the genus Curcuma is represented by about 40 species.

❖ They found mainly in northeast and southern States and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands