Curcuma longa

Description:

Turmeric or lenaZingiberaceae (Ginger family)Photo: Developing stages of lena. Plants are easy to grow in warm areas. All that is needed is a small piece (upper left) from which a new plant emerges to form a large rhizome (lower plant) in 10-12 months.Polynesian namesAngo (Futina, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Uvea)Cago (Fiji)Rea, Rea maohi (Societies)Renga (Cooks)Eka (Northern Marquesas)Ena (Southern Marquesas)Talea (Tuamotus)lena (Hawaii)Polynesians use the rhizomes mostly as traditional medicine or yellow dye.lena is one of 24 or 25 canoe plants that were brought by the early Polynesians to the Hawaiian Islands. Another canoe plant, awapuhi or Shampoo ginger (Zingiber zerumbet), is related to lena.Pua lenawww.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/20577836128/in/photolist...lena can be harvested at any time of the year. However, I generally like to harvest it when the leaves turn completely brown. I find it has a better and stronger taste at that time. When leaves are green the rhizomes seem more watery and less flavorful. The health benefits are reducing inflammation and joint & muscle pain, and increasing cardiovascular, skin, brain cell function and mood balance.