curculigo latifolia

​Curculigo latifolia ia a rhizome-bearing, hairy herb up to 1 m tall. Its bright yellow flowers are up to 1.3 cm wide. Its hairy fruits is ovoid and white, 2.5 cm long and contain many seed. The plant looks like a young coconut palm and it has attractive bright yellow flower. This plant is suitable for borders.

Taxonomy:

  • Family : Hypoxidaceae

Common Names:

  • Malay : Lumbah Rimba, Kepala Puyuh
  • English : Hill Coconut

Habitat and Distribution:
Costus speciosus thrives in tropical region. The origin is Indo-Malesia . It is native to Tropical and Sub-Tropical Asia to NE. Queensland.

Uses:

  • Food (Fruit or Vegetable) : The edible fruits can whet the appetite according to a report. Curculin, an artificial sweetener, is extracted from the fruits too.
  • Medicinal : A decoction of the rhizome is used in menorrhagia and ophthalmia.
  • Others : The leaves may be employed to pack fruits, or rolled into string. Fibres extracted from the leaves can be used to make fishing nets.