The genus Calathea was founded by Dr. Meyer in his 
Pj'imit'ue Flora Essequeboensis, upon the Maranta Cassu])o 
of Jacquin. It was probably described after an examina- 
tkm of dried specimens, which may account for the charac- 
ter given by the founder of it not being so complete as 
could have been desired. The original species has not 
fallen under our observation, but we presume that the 
genus was designed to comprehend all the plants previously 
referred to Maranta, which have not a circinate style and 
naked flowers. We have, therefore, reformed the generic 
character, from an attentive examination of the plant now 
before the reader, M. Zebrina of the Gardens, and a new 
species from Brazil, which we propose soon to publish in 
this work under the name of Calathea violacea. Sprengel 
refersMaranta Cachibou of Jacq., axidM.jtincea of Lamarck, 
neither of which we have seen, to the genus ; but he retains 
in Maranta the Allouya of Jacquin, which surely is, as far 
as can be judged from Jacquin's figure and description, a 
ge&Uiiie species of Calathea. 
• 
Canneae have been separated by Mr. Brown, as a dis- 
tinct order from Scitamineae, on account of the single cell 
of their anthers, and the absence of vitellus from their 
seeds ; and the separation is confirmed by nature, who has 
given toCanneJE none of the aromatic properties, so charac- 
teristic of true Scitamineae. But there is another point of 
difference between these two orders, to which we believe 
that no allusion has hitherto been made, and which appears 
to us to be of at least as great importance as those by 
which this division has been already effected; inasmuch 
aait consists in a diversity of structure upon which the 
respective affinities of th^ two orders with Orchideae 
will be found to depend. In true Scitamineae, as has 
been observed by Mr. Brown, the stamen is always 
placed opposite to the labellum, or anterior division 
of the inner series of the perianthium, and proceeds 
from the base of the posterior outer division of the peri- 
anthium; while the sterile stamens, when they exist, 
are stationed right and left of the labellum. But what 
we find remarkable in Canneae is, that the. place of one 
of the sterile stamens of Scitamineae is talsen by their 
fertile stamen, which is therefore no longer opposite the 
labellum, but stands on one side of it. This peculiarity of 
