= i in. long. Corolla-tube funnel-shaped, } in. long; lobes 
was, however, first introduced to European cultivation in 
1820, and a plant had already flowered at Kew in 1864. 
Cuntivation.—The species now figured, like the other 
Alpinias, thrives well when grown as a swamp plant in a 
strong loamy well-manured soil with a constant supply of 
moisture and a high temperature. An ideal place for such — 
plants is a tropical aquatic house where the soil about the 
roots can be kept in a mud-like condition while the stems 
are exposed to abundant sunshine. The flowers of the 
various species of Alpinia are somewhat fugacious, but while 
fully open they are very effective. 
Descrietion.—Herb ; perennial. Stem erect, 3-7 ft. high. 
Leaves up to 2 ft. in length, 6 in. wide, ovate-oblong, the 
uppermost lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous above, paler and 
tomentose beneath, the margins closely ciliate ; leaf-sheaths 
about 8 in. long with an obtuse, glabrous ligula; petioles 
2 in. long. Racemes terminal, erect, simple, 5-8 in. long, 
_ with densely hirsute rhachis and short hirsute pedicels ; 
bracts green, elliptic. Calyx campanulate, split on one side, 
a a 
ee oblong, 14 in. long, 2 in. wide, white with a pink tinge. 
Labellum rather longer than corolla-lobes, ovate, concave, 
1? in. long, 2-24 in. wide, pale rose without, within reddish- 
purple, with pale rose margins and yellow tip. lament 
flattened, pubescent; staminodes subulate, 1 in. long. 
Ovary subglobose, densely silky. 
Fig. 1, flower, corolla-lobes removed ; 2, epigynous disk and style-base ; 
8, style-apex and stigma; 4, entire plant, showing habit :—1-8 enlarged, 4 much 
reduced, 
