SafePlants

Curculigo: A Tropical Herb with a Rich History

Curculigo is a genus of flowering plants with a long history of use in traditional medicine. This page explores the botanical characteristics, distribution, and traditional uses of this fascinating plant.

Considerations for Pets

• Some species of Curculigo have rhizomes, which are underground stems.

Considerations for Children

• Some species of Curculigo have rhizomes, which are underground stems.

Scientific Classification and Nomenclature

• Genus: Curculigo
• Family: Hypoxidaceae
• First Described: 1788
• Species Example: Curculigo orchioides
• Synonyms/Alternative Names:
  • Molineria Colla

Common Names for Curculigo orchioides:

• Golden eye-grass
• Kali Musli
• Syah (black) Musli
• Xian Mao (Chinese)
• Indian Curculigo

Distribution and Habitat

• The Curculigo genus is widespread across tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and Australia.
• Curculigo orchioides is native to China, Japan, the Indian Subcontinent, Papuasia, and Micronesia.
• It is often found growing throughout the hilly areas of India and China.
• Curculigo orchioides can be found growing mostly on hilly slopes and wild places.
• Curculigo seychellensis is widespread and locally abundant on Mahé, Silhouette, Praslin, and Fregate islands.

Morphological Characteristics

• The typical Curculigo consists of a few long blades.
• Curculigo orchioides is a small herb with a tuberous root-stock up to 10 cm long.
• Perennial herbs, often with tuberous rhizomes.
• Ornamental species have broad pleated leaves with yellow six-petaled flowers clustered near the base.

Traditional and Medicinal Uses

• Curculigo orchioides, Curculigo capitulata, and Curculigo pilosa are often used in traditional medicine.
• Curculigo orchioides is well known for its medicinal use in the Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine.
• Rhizomes of Curculigo orchioides are acclaimed as an aphrodisiac.
• In West Africa, Curculigo pilosa rhizome is traditionally used in the manufacture of infant food and sorghum beer.
• Rhizoma Curculiginis (Curculigo root) is used traditionally.

Quirky Facts

• Curculigo orchioides is sometimes called "Black Gold".
• In Chinese, Curculigo is called "xian mao shu" which translates to land immortal root.

Additional Information

• The Plant List includes 52 scientific plant names of species rank for the genus Curculigo, of which 13 are accepted species names.
• Curculigo orchioides is listed in the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
• Curculigo is also referenced in the Flora of the West Indies database (version 2007).