^.NGSR HORTUS JAMAICIENSIS; , 22'.S 



unequal, spreading ; nectary two-}eave<l or two lipped ; lever lip inserted under 

 the iippt;r segment of tlie corolla, spreading, al-most erect, cntirti-or tLree-lobed ; 

 the stamen has no filament, except the upper lip of the noctary, smalier then the 

 lower, and opposite to it, acuminate, or three-lobed at the tip ; along the niiiidlo 

 or at tlie end of which grows longitudinallj' a large oblong anther, geminate, or 

 divided by a longitudinal furrow into two, which are one-valved ; the pistil ha^S an 

 inferior oblong germ, a filiform style, drav^n tin-ough the suture of tlie anllier'; 

 stigma turbinate, obtuse, ciliate; the pcricar]) is a tleshj' capsule, ovate, three- 

 cornered, three-celled, three-valved; seeds several, covered with a sort of berried 

 aril. Obs. The inflorescence is in a spike on a distinct scape. Two species 

 of this geuus grow plentifull}' in Jamaica. 



1. ZINZIBER. GTNGER. 



Foliis lunteolatisy floribus spicatis, scapo Jlorifero pariiali. Browne, 

 p. 119. 

 Scape middle sized ; spike oTate ; leaves linear-la'nceolate. 



Hoot creeping, bjpaimate, compressed, flesh}', tubers, with age becoming fibrose. 



Cuiiii annual, two feet high, quite single, solid, upright. Leaves iialf a foot ni length, 



smooth, alternate, on short embracing petioles. Scape scperate, eight inches high, 



thick, round, straight, scaly, usually without leaves; spike upright, composed of 



]u'rge, ovat-', sub-acuminate, coloured scales, half closing the flowers ; calyx a small 



<l)uble spaihe. Corolla yellowish green, witli a long slender tube; the segments of 



the ijOrder conical,- and nearly equal. Nectary reddish brown, ovate, quite entire, 



.peui-shajied, winged on each side at the base, somewhat shorter than the corolla, 



fastened to it heiow the interior fissure of the segmeats. Filament (upper lip of the 



nectary) fiiit'orm, placed on the corolla, and shorter than it; anther ovate, large, cloven 



longitudinally, embracing the filiform style; stigma cylindraceous, ciliate at the tip; 



capsule iJHi?jL>iiJ, witn many oblong seeds in it. Loiireiro. 



^. "" ' 



'This plaivt is a native of the East Indies, and was introduced into New Spr.in by a 

 person named Francisco de Mendoza, from whence it most probably was brought to 

 Jamaica, where it now grows so plentifully, even in a wild state, as to induce a belief 

 that it was indigenous to the soil. Since its introduction, it has become an article of 

 considerable export, for which purpose it has been generally cidtivated. The foUovy- 

 ing manner of preparing it in .lamaica is extractetl from Long's History : 



" It is propagated by the smaller pieces, prongs, or protuberances of the root, each 

 of which throws up two different steins; the first bears the leaves, and rises to the 

 height sometimes of three feet or upwards, 1)ut its usual growth seldom exceeds eigh- 

 teen inches. It thrives best in a rich cool soil, and, therefore, what has been recently 

 cleared froi wooil isvvell adapted to the culture of it, more especially as it is supposed 

 to be a great impos'erisher of land. In such a soil, it grows so luxuriantly, that a hand, 

 or large spreading- rout, will weigh near a pound. It is, however, remarked, that what 

 is produced from a clayey, tenacious soil, shrinks less in scalding, while such as is 

 raised in ricner, free, black moulds, loses considerably in that operation. The land 

 intended for the cultivation of it, is first v^ ell cleaned with the hoe, then slightly 

 trenched, and planted about the month of March or April. It attains its full height, 

 an d flowers about August or September ; and fades about the close of the year. \\ heu 

 iliO staik ii eatircly withered, the roots are in the proper state for digging. This is 



' T 1 3 ^ generally 



