328 HANA.NA FAMILY. 



linear, shorter than the rose-purple oblong-obovate drooping sac, which is split 

 down the front but nearly closed : fl. spring. 



-- - East Indian species of the conservatory, with several thick and firm keeled 

 leaves in 2 ranks at the root : sac luinyinij, laryely open at top. 



C. insigne, has linear strap-shaped cartilaginous leaves, and yellow flower 

 with some greenish and purple-spotted. 



C. veniistum, with more fleshy oblong-strap-shaped mottled and spotted 

 leaves, and purplish flower with some green and yellow. 



118. SCITAMINE.E!, BANANA FAMILY. 



Here is assembled a group of tropical or subtropical plant?, with 

 leaves having distinct petiole, and blade, the latter traversed by 

 nerves running from the midrib to the margin ; flowers irregular, 

 with a perianth of at least two ranks of divisions, below all combined 

 into a tube which is adherent to the 3-celled ovary ; the stamens 

 1 - G and distinct. We have only two, by no means common, wild 

 representatives on our southeastern borders ; the cultivated ones 

 are chiefly grown for their ornamental foliage, and mo t of them are 

 rarely seen in blossom. They may therefore be simply referred to, 

 as follows. 



I. GINGER FAMILY. Seeds, rootstocks, or roots hot-aro- 

 matic. Stamen only one, with a 2-celled anther, commonly em- 

 bracing the style, but not united with it. 



Hed^chium Gardner ianam, GARLAND-FLOWER, cult, from India : 



stems 3-4 high, furnished to the top with oblong 2-ranked leaves, terminating 

 in a large spike of handsome light-yellow flowers, a slender tube bearing 

 divisions which may be likened to those of an Orehideous flower, one (answer- 

 ing to the lip) much larger and broader than the 5 others, and a very long 

 protruding reddish filament terminated by a yellow anther sheathing the style 

 up almost to the stigma. 



II. ARROWROOT or INDIAN-SHOT FAMILY. No hot- 

 aromatic properties, the thick rootstocks, &c., commonly contain 

 much staivh, from which genuine arrowroot is produced. Stamen 

 only one with an anther, and that one-celled. 



Thalia dealbata, wild in marshes and ponds far S., is dusted over with a 

 white powder, the heart-ovate lonir-petioled leaves all from the root, reed-like 

 scape branching above into paniclcd spikes of small much-bracted purple (lowers. 



Maranta zebrina, rarely flowers, but is a showy leaf-plant in conserva- 

 tories ; the oblong leaves 2 or'3 feet long, purple beneath, the upper surface 

 satiny and with alternating stripes of deep and pale green ; flower- dull purple, 

 inconspicuous, in a bracted head or spike near the ground on a short scape. 



Canna Indica, COMMON INDIAN SHOT (so called from the hard shot- 

 like seeds, these several in the 3 cells of the rough-walled pod): frequently 

 planted for summer flowering ; the lance-ovate or i.blong pointed leaves G' - 12' 

 Ion;,' ; flowers several in a simple or branching spike, about 2' long, red, 

 varying to yellow, or variegated; stamen with petal-like filament bearing the 

 anther on one side, otherwise resembling the .'{ divisions of an inner corolla, 

 tlie-e probably transformed sterile stamens. The following, more magnificent 

 for summer foliage, and sometimes for tlo\\cr.s are choicer sorts, but much 

 confused as to species. 



C. Warszewiczii, 4 -5 high, with mostly purplish or purple-margined 

 pointed leaves, and crimson-red flowers. 



