It is the common name of a plant in the family Zingiberaceae. It has culinary and medicinal uses. It is also called stick or saffron, poor saffron. Its scientific name is Curcuma longa. It is native to India. Not to be confused with Crocus sativus, from the family Iridaceae and which is considered the authentic Saffron and which is the species that is extracted from its pollen.
