273 



in fruit. The hoary and almost silvery stems and under sur- 

 face of the leaves, with the rich green of their upper surface, 

 and the handsome cherry-coloured drupes, afford a pleasing 

 contrast with the vegetation around it; for it is found grow- 

 ing in the utmost luxuriance in an arid calcareous soil, where 

 every thing else is burnt up; an additional proof of the 

 utility of the covering of plants, in preventing the too rapid 

 exhalation of their juices." 



The whole plant is intensely bitter; a farther evidence 

 of its affinity with the SitnarubecB and the genus Quassia. The 

 drawing was made by Mr. Adams of Antigua. 



Tab. LVI. A, Portion of a female plant. B, Portion of a 

 male plant: — nat. size. i^z^. 1, Unexpanded flower. Fig. 

 2, Female flower, with its abortive stamens. Fig. 3, 

 Single abortive stamen. Fig. 4, Stamens of a male 

 flower. Fig. 5, Single stamen. Fig. 6, Drupe. Fig. 7, 

 Drupe cut open to show the nut. Fig. 8, Section of the 

 nut to show the seed. Fig. 9, Section of the seed. Fig. 

 10, Embryo. Fig. IJ, Leaf: — all more or less magnified. 



[TAB. LVII. LVIII. LIX. LX.] 



JACK'S MALAYAN MISCELLANIES. 



[Vol. I. Part I.j 



DESCRIPTION OF MALAYAN PLANTS, 



BY 



WILLIAM JACK. 



ZINGIBER GRACILE. W. J. 



MoNANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Nat. Ord. SciTAMINEiE. 



%. gracile; foliis glabris, scapis erectis, spicis cylindricis gra- 

 cilibus coloratis, bracteis ovatis acutis, corollae labio 

 trilobo, lobo medio bifido. 



