70 MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Alpinia, - 
8. A. spicata, R. . ; 
Spike terminal, oblong, compactly imbricated with narrow 
lanceolate, acute bractes. : 
A native of Sumatra, from thence introduced eel Mr. 
Roxburgh into the Calcutta Botanic garden in 1803. Is the - 
slowest growing and smallest of the genus in this garden. 
Flowering time the close of the rains. : 
Root as in the other species. Stems arising in an bho 
direction to the height of about two feet, when from two to’ 
three years old the flowers appear, and after their functions 
are performed, the stems decay. Leaves bifarious, sessile on 
their sheaths, broad-lanceolar, fine-pomted, surfaces and 
margins smooth, from six to twelve inches long. Sheaths of 
the leaves smooth, ending in a long, bifid, or simple ligula. ” 
Spikes terminal, strobiliform, compact. Bractes, the exterior 
imbricate, ensiform-lanceolate, one-flowered, outside slightly 
villous, Interior or inferior calyx, one-leaved, sub-cylindric, 
length of the perianth proper, mouth obliquely truncate, | 
outside villous. Calyx superior, like the inner bracte, and 
of the same length, &c. Corol, exterior border of three, 
very acute, linear-lanceolate segments. Inner or lip uncer- 
tain, as the only two spikes I have yet seen did not expand — 
sufficiently, to allow me to ascertain its form. Filament 
short, anther large, of two, long linear lobes with the style 
sunk between them. Germ oval, very hairy, three-celled, 
with numerous ovula in each, attached to the axis. Style” 
slender, Stigma large, ve of — > gaping ; 
lobes. 
_ ie = ae 
SECT. I. Infrae adieal 
_ 9. A. cardamomum. R. CSE ot | 
_wScapes from the base of the stem, te adifsouiy fexune, y 
% Procumbent. — Lip three-lobed, with calcarate base. 
n eens, seu  Corcinbreest ced, v, spe P 
t. 131. 
