Curcuma caesia Roxb. commonly known as ‘black turmeric’ is an erect rhizomatous herb characterized by bluish‑black rhizomes and leaves with a deep red-violet midrib. It is a native of northeast and central India and also found in Java and Myanmar. The plant is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of several metabolic disorders, leukoderma, leprosy, rheumatic complaints, bronchial disorders, menstrual disorders, gastrointestinal problems, neurological disorders, cancer and diabetes. The rhizomes contain 1.3-7.14% anthocyanins which determine its bluish black hue. 1,8-cineole, camphor, ar-turmerone, linalool, ocimene, ar-curcumene, zingiberol, curzerenone and tropolone were reported as the major components of rhizome oil from different geographical locations.

During the last few decades essential oils derived from different herbs and aromatic plants have received a growing focus of scientific investigation due to their multifunctional uses beyond their traditional roles as food additives and scents. Over 3000 species have been identified as medicinal plants that produce essential oils. Vetiver grass has wide range of diversity throughout the world with diverse genotype variability. It has multifarious uses in various agricultural, medicinal, aromatic,engineering, conservational and in industrial sectors. The C. zizanioides is well known in various regions of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Africa. Vetiver roots, particularly those fromKarnataka, have been utilised to make herbal drinks that are energising to combat tiredness. The vetiver grass, referred as "vetiver" or "vetiver–vetiver" in India, serves a variety of purposes in aromatic, pharmaceuticals, food, and beverage industries. This paper presents a review of the diversity and distribution of this crop along with its various uses and applications.

Small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton), an eco-friendly high value spice and foreign exchange earner, is a native of Western Ghats of South India. India enjoyed near monopoly in its production till the seventies, but with the emergence of Guatemala as the main competitor, it has been relegated to second position both in production and export. The low production of cardamom up to eighties was due to lack of sound location specific agronomic package of recommendations. Hence, after a detailed survey of entire small cardamom growing areas in India and interaction with cardamom growers and other stake holders, a comprehensive location specific research programme was finalised and carried out for over 25 years.

The Indian Society for Spices (ISS) was founded in 1991 for the advancement of research and development in spices, aromatic and related crops. The society

The Editorial Committee (Editor-in-Chief, Editor and Assistant Editor) is housed at ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode, Kerala and is supported by Advisory Committee with scientists of international and national repute.