The Voynich Botanical Plants

Folio 11v, Turmeric (Curcuma longa), is a rhizomatous, herbaceous, perennial plant of the ginger family, native to tropical South Asia. In medieval Europe, turmeric was known as Indian Saffron and was used as an alternative to saffron. Turmeric is the yellow spice used in Indian curries and found in American prepared mustard, and is produced by boiling, drying, and then grinding the rhizomes. People whose diets are rich in turmeric have lower rates of breast cancer as well as prostate, lung, and colon cancers.