What is "curculigo"

Curculigo is a flowering plant genus in the family Hypoxidaceae, first described in 1788. It is widespread across tropical regions of Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas.

Curculin is a sweet protein that was discovered and isolated in 1990 from the fruit of Curculigo latifolia, a plant from Malaysia. Like miraculin, curculin exhibits taste-modifying activity; however, unlike miraculin, it also exhibits a sweet taste by itself. After consumption of curculin, water and sour solutions taste sweet. The plant is referred to locally as 'Lembah' or 'Lumbah'; English: 'Weevil-wort'.

1. Curculigo annamitica Gagnep. - Vietnam
2. Curculigo breviscapa S.C.Chen - China (Guangxi, Guangdong)
3. Curculigo conoc Gagnep. - Vietnam
4. Curculigo disticha Gagnep. - Vietnam
5. Curculigo ensifolia R.Br. - Australia
6. Curculigo erecta Lauterb. - Philippines, Sumatra, New Guinea, Solomon Island
7. Curculigo maharashtrensis M.R.Almeida & S.Yadav - Maharashtra
8. Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. - China, Japan, Indian Subcontinent, Papuasia, Micronesia
9. Curculigo pilosa (Schumach. & Thonn.) Engl. - tropical Africa, Madagascar
10. Curculigo racemosa Ridl. - Borneo
11. Curculigo savantwadiensis M.R.Almeida & S.Yadav - Maharashtra
12. Curculigo scorzonerifolia (Lam.) Baker - southern Mexico, Central America, West Indies, northern South America
13. Curculigo seychellensis Bojer ex Baker - Seychelles
14. Curculigo sinensis S.C.Chen - China (Yunnan)
15. Curculigo tonkinensis Gagnep. - Vietnam