FLORA VITIENSIS, 291 
Corollz tubus brevis; limbi lacinie exteriores laterales postica angustiores, interiores laterales 0 ; 
labellum maximum, explanatum. Filamentum complanatum, lateribus apiceque ultra antheram 
muticam productum, lobulis 2 auctum, lobo terminali 2-fido. Ovarium inferum, 3-loculare. Ovula 
in loculorum angulo centrali oo, horizontalia, anatropa. Stylus filiformis, inter anther loculos 
receptus; stigma infundibuliforme. ^ Capsula sæpius baccata, 3-locularis, loculicido-3-valvis. 
Semina oo, arillata.—Herb:ze radicibus articulatis, repentibus; foliis bifariis, membranaceis; vaginis 
fissis; inflorescentia radicali, spicata, laxe imbricata. 
1. A. Cevuga, (sp. nov.) Seem. (Tab. LXXXIX.) ; caule elongato folioso, foliis brevi-petiolatis 
lineari-lanceolatis (1-11 ped. longis, 2-3 unc. latis) longe acuminatis glabris; scapis radicalibus 
cc-floris, bracteis oblongis v. obovato-oblongis obtusiusculis (purpureis) ; calyce bracteola calyciformi 
pilosa inclusa; corolle (pallide rosez) lobis lateralibus oblongis patentibus, dorsali spathulato- 
obovato ceteris longiore, labello subrotundato margine subundulato; antheris stigmatibusque pilosis. 
—Nomen vernac, “  Cevuga,"—Namosi, Viti Levu (Seemann! n. 624), 
The leaves are 12-15 inches long, and 23-3 inches broad, and used by the natives for making into 
necklaces (taubes) and for scenting the cocoa-nut oil with which they grease their naked bodies. We used 
them as an ingredient of curry. : 9 
; EXPLANATION OF Prare LXXXIX., representing A. Cevuga, Seem.—Fig. 1, scape; 2, flower; 3, 
the same after removal of calyx and corolla; 4, filament :—all, with exception of Fig. 1, magnified. 
IV, Curcuma, Linn. Gen. n. 6; Endl. Gen. n. 1623. Calyx tubuloso-3-dentatus, Corolle 
tubus sursum dilatatus; limbi laciniz exteriores interioribus lateralibus conformes; labellum majus, 
patens. Filamentum petaloideo-dilatatum, carinatum, apice 3-lobum, lobo intermedio anthera 
2-calcarata terminato. Ovarium inferum, 3-loculare. Ovula in loculorum angulo centrali cc, 
horizontalia, anatropa. Stylus filiformis ; stigma capitatum. Capsula 3-locularis, loculicido-3-valvis. 
Semina co, arillata.— Herbs acaules, radicibus palmato-tuberosis, perennantes; foliis herbaceis ; 
petiolis vaginantibus, bifariis; scapo simplici, laterali v. centrali; spica simplici, erecta, comosa, 
inferne bracteis saccatis subimbricata; floribus flavescentibus, intra quamvis bracteam ternis quinisve 
approximatis, bracteolatis. 
1. C. longa, Linn. Spec. n. 3; Rosc. in Trans. Linn. Soc. vol. viii. p. 355; tuberibus palmatis 
longis, intus saturate aurantiacis; foliis longe petiolatis, late lanceolatis, utrinque attenuatis, totis 
viridibus; spica terminali; bracteis spathulatis.— Roxb. Asiat. Research. vol. xi. p. 340; Bot. Reg. 
t. 886. Amomum Curcuma, Jacq. Vind. vol. ii. t. 4. Nomen vernac. Vitiense, “ Cago."— Viti 
Levu, Vanua Levu, Taviuni, etc. (Seemann! n. 622). Also found in Tahiti, according to Solander, 
and Easter Island, according to Forster, Common in the East Indies and the Archipelago, 
The Cago grows abundantly in all the lower districts. The whites use the rhizome in the preparation 
of curry, and the natives the powder of it as food, or more commonly to daub over the bodies of women 
after childbirth and those of dead friends—a custom also prevailing in the Samoan group, according to Mr. 
Pritchard. In the few districts that have as yet not been brought under the immediate influence of the 
Foreign Consuls or the missionaries, the heathen widows are painted with it before strangulation. In fact, 
turmeric powder is with the Fijian what rouge and similar preparations are with us—a cosmetic. Pro- 
moting, in their opinion, health and beauty, it is put on with no sparing hand by the women, and pointed 
remarks are made about too great a proximity if a man be unfortunate enough to have some stains of 
turmeric on his body or scanty dress. The manufacture of turmeric is similar to that of arrowroot, and is 
generally managed by the women. The receiving pits, dug in the ground, are lined with herbage, so as to 
retain the juicy parts. The grated rhizome is afterwards placed in the body of a canoe, and rolled up and 
strained through a fine basket lined with fern leaves. It is then carried away in bamboos, and for several 
days exposed to the air, when the fluid is gently poured off, and a sediment, the Rerega of Fiji, or turmeric 
of commerce, is found at the bottom, 
