Phrynium. MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 5 
glossy, inferior membranaceous.—Perisperm conform to the seed, 
and as in P. capitatum, &c. a brown substance runs up from the base, 
into the arch of the embryo HP simple, hooked, with the con- 
vexity upwards. 
Obs. It is almost needless to persis that this plant has no relation 
to that which furnishes the Cardamom of Malabar, viz. my Alpinia 
Cardamomum. 
2. PR spicatum. R. 
Stemless. Leaves radical, bifarious, oblong. Spikes radical, 
shorter than the petioles, meme bifariously imbricated. 
. Plants of ii , were sent by Mr. Felix Carey from 
Pegu, to the Tain icq: Lainetta lee So: iion in, 
April and May. 
Root perennial, Aon creeping Be a aia in "de A. 
thick as a ratan; fibres numerous from the main body, and spread in 
all directions.— Stem none, the sheathing petioles unite from 6 to 12 
inches in extent, and resemble one, as in the Curcumas.—Leaves i im 
little radical tufts, of three or four each, sub-bifarious, petioled, linear- 
oblong; base broad and rounded; apex tapering, and sharp, both sur- 
faces quite smooth; position nearly horizontal; length 6-10 inch- 
"es, by 9-3 visis gis f a m the most exterior of the tuft sheathing, 
with their upper part round and smooth, those in the centre, (one or. 
two) have no sheath, and are from apex to base round and smooth; 
general length of the whole from 6 to 12 inches, which is nearly the 
height of the whole lant, the position of the leaves being nearly 
horizontal.—Spi litary in the centre of the petioles, or lateral 
from their base, shochaeduncled, sub-cylindric, acute, ap saiad 
but little above the soil, imbricated on 1 opposite sides, with 4-8, al- al- 
ternate, bifarious bractes, or sheaths; each embraces a small spi ike- _ 
let of four or five pairs of sessile, small, nearly white flowers, « on 
the back, or interior side of the spikelet, which expand in successi- 
on, beginning with the lower pair. Rachis flexuose, smooth.—. Brac 
tes; exterior, or common, one at each joint of the spike, sub -cyli 
dric, sheathing, smooth, and rather obtuse 5 interior, or proper one 
