Monandrian Class usually called Scitaminee. ^ — 335 
the genus Costus ; and the Hellenia of Willdenow (Heritiera of 
Retzius) and the Renealmias figured in Andrews's Dotanists Re- 
pository unite themselves with the genus Alpinia. 
In forming the generic characters of these plants, I have cid 
relied on the more immediate organs of fructification ; without 
resorting to the exterior parts of the flower, respecting which 
great confusion has arisen among the writers on this subject.— 
That part which by some is called the corolla *, is by others de- 
nominated the inner calyx +; the outer one being short and sit- 
ting close upon the germen. By some the interior limb of the 
corolla, when it consists only of one petal, is called the nectaryt, 
whilst others apply that name to both the interior petal and its 
opposite anthera-bearing filament, considering the nectary as bila- 
biate§. Other authors have considered the glandular appendages 
at the base of the corolla as the nectary|; and the descriptions 
of these have been mistaken for what has been called the interior 
limb of the corolla. That I may not increase this confusion, 
I think it necessary to state, that independent of the anthera- 
bearing filament and style, I consider the flower of a true Scita~ 
minean plant as consisting of an exterior bractea or scale, a 
proper calyx, a corolla mostly divided into three lobes or sections, | 
enclosing an interior limb, which has sometimes two or three seg- 
ments, but invariably a petal-like nectary, which generally ter- 
minates in a large pendulous coloured lip, and forms the most 
conspicuous and ornamental part of the flower. — 
I must however observe. that none of these usc editione 
parts can be relied on for ¢ generic distinctions, | as they frequently 
differ greatly i in the different. peist: of the same genus. But 
.ó “Linneus T his editii &c. — ^ $ Jussieu. : —— 
t Jacquin frequently, but not invariably. § Swartz. || Retzius. € Willdenow. | 
wg uro this 
