327 



the Cannaceee and Marantaceas may be represented in the follow- 

 ing manner (calyx, corolla and gynceceum being omitted) : 



CANNACEJE. 



w w 



st 



w lab 



* 



IV 



MARANTACE.E. 



st 



wi c 



* 



ic The lateral staminodes, " wings ; " st fertile stamen ; * the suppressed stamen ; lab 

 labsllutn ; c hood ; u'i inner- wing. 



The labellum of the Cannacea? corresponds with the hood of the Marantacese and not 

 with the labellum of the Ziugiberaceaj. 



Order 4. Marantaceae. The flower is asymmetrical. Only 

 1 or 2 of the 3 stamens in the outer whorl are present as stami- 

 nodes ; in the inner whorl 2 are petaloid and of the sixth stamen 



FIG. 317. Calathea zebrina. 



one-half is developed as a staminode and the other half bears 

 a bilocnlar anther. One ovule only in each loculus. The style 

 is strongly curved and at first enclosed in one of the staminodes 

 (hood) of the inner whorl ; later on it springs elastically forward 

 towards the other staminode (inner-wing) of the same whorl. 

 The stigma is very oblique or 2-lipped. Two of the three loculi 

 of the ovary, in some (Maranta, Thalia) become small and empty. 

 Embryo curved. Leaves in two rows, with sheath, stalk, and blade 

 (Fig. 317) ; at the base of the last is a characteristic swelling 

 (arf iculu>i) . Phrynium, Calathea, Stromunthe, Ctenanthe, Saranthe, etc. 

 About 150 species ; tropical, especially America. The starch of the rhizome 

 of Maranta arundinacea is OFFICINAL, " West Indian Arrowroot." 



