209 . FLORA VITIENSIS. 
V. Zingiber, Gertn. Fruct. vol. i. p. 33. t. 12; Endl. Gen. n. 1622. Calyx tubulosus, hine 
fissus. Corolle tubus brevis; limbi laciniz exteriores equales, interiores laterales 0; labellum 
3-lobum.  Filamentum supra antheram muticam in rostrum simplex incurvatum elongatum. 
Ovarium inferum, 3-loculare. Ovula in loculorum angulo centrali co, horizontalia, anatropa. Stylus 
filiformis, filamento obvolutus ; stigma infundibuliforme. Capsula subbaccata, 3-locularis, loculicido- 
3-valvis. Semina co, arillata, in pulpa nidulantia.— Herb:e radicibus tuberosis articulatis repentibus, 
.perennantes; caulibus annuis; foliorum membranaceorum distichorum vaginis inclusis; spicis 
strobiliformibus, radicalibus v. rarius terminalibus, solitariis, e bracteis imbricatis unifloris compositis. 
l. Z. Zerumbet, Rosc. in Linn. Soc. Trans. vol. viii. p. 948; spicis radicalibus; bracteis 
ovatis, obtusis; laciniis coroll: erectis, acutis, nectario 2-lobato.—Amomum Zerumbet, Willd. Spec. 
vol. i.p. 6. Zingiber spurium, Konig, ex Dryand. in Linn. Soc. Trans. vol. ii. p. 213; Jacq. Hort. 
Vindob. vol. iii. t. 54. Nomen vernac. Vitiense, * Beta;" Tahitiense, teste Solander, ** Obui ” v. 
* Abuhi;" Hawaiense, teste Hillebrand, * Olena.” —Abundant throughout the lower districts of 
Viti (Seemann! n. 623). Also found in Tahiti (Banks and Solander!) and Sandwich Islands 
(Macrae ! Hillebrand!). Common in the East Indies. 
This species of ginger abounds in the lower districts of the group, where it is called “ Beta." The 
rhizome, though less pungent than that of the species exported from China, has been found to make tole- 
rably good preserves, and answers all the other purposes for which genuine ginger (Zingiber officinale, Linn.) 
is commonly employed. During our journey we often used it with turmeric, a few leaves of another aro- 
matic Zingiberaceous plant termed * Cevuga" (Amomum Cevuga, Seem.), and a few fruits of the bird's- 
eye pepper (Capsicum frutescens, Linn.), for making curry, which, all the ingredients being fresh, proved of 
excellent flavour. 
VI. Canna, Linn. Gen. n. 1; Endl. Gen. n. 1646. Calyx 3-phyllus. Corolle limbus exterior 
3-fidus, interior 2-labiatus; labio superiore 2—3-partito v. abortu O, inferiore indiviso. Filamentum 
petaloideum, anthera marginali. Ovarium inferum, 3-loculare. Ovula in loculorum angulo centrali 
co, horizontalia, anatropa. Stylus petaloideus; stigma lineare, margini adnatum. Capsula membra- 
nacea, papilloso-muricata, 3-locularis, loculicido-8-valvis. Semina oo, subglobosa, testa coriacea, 
dura. Albumen corneum. Embryo orthotropus, axilis, cylindrieus, albuminis longitudine, extremi- 
tate radiculari albumen perforante, umbilicum attingente, cotyledonis apice subinflexo.— Herbe 
perennes; caule simplici; foliis longe petiolatis, late ovatis ; spica terminali laxa; floribus bracteatis. 
1. C. Indica, Linn. Syst. Veg. ed. Pers. p. 49; foliis ovatis, utrinque acuminatis, nervosis: 
coroll limbo interiore 3-fido, laciniis lanceolatis, strictis.— Rosc. in Trans. Linn. Soc. vol. viii. 
p. 388. Nomen vernac. Vitiense, “ Gasau ni ga” (i.e. Duck's reed); “Indian shot” of the 
colonists. Common on roadsides, about houses, etec., in the lower parts of Taviuni, Gau, and most 
other Vitian Islands (Seemann! n. 625, Milne!). Also found in the Hawaiian (Barclay! Macrae! 
Diell !), Samoan (Powell !), and Tongan Islands (Barclay !), in the East Indies and the Archipelago, - 
and tropical America. 
This species, which is indigenous to America, was not found by Banks and Solander or the Forsters 
in any part of tropical Polynesia; but since their time it has become a common weed in most of the Poly- 
nesian islands, as it has also in the Indian Archipelago, India, and Southern China. 
