54 MEDICAL BOTANY. 
and becomes musty. It is insoluble in cold water, but by rupture of the envelope is soluble in hot. 
highly nutritious. 
Pirate XCVII.—Represenis the plant in flower, and the organs of reproduction. 
Arrow root is 
ZINGIBERACE A. 
LINDLEY. 
THE GINGER TRIBE. 
SciraMinez.—R. Brown. 
DrymMyruzE£.— Ventenat. 
EssentiaL Cuar.—Calyz superior, tubular, three-lobed, short. Corolla tubular, irregular, with six segments in two 
whorls; the outer three-parted, with the intermediate segment (labellum) larger than the rest and often three-lobed, 
the lateral segments sometimes nearly abortive. Stamens three, distinct, of which the two lateral are abortive, and the 
intermediate fertile ; this placed opposite the labellum, and arising from the base of the intermediate segment of the 
- outer series of the corolla. Filament not petaloid, often extended beyond the anther in the shape of a lobed or entire 
- appendage. Anthers two-celled, opening longitudinally, its lobes often embracing the upper part of the style. Pollen 
globose, smooth. Ovary three-celled, sometimes imperfectly so. Ovules several, attached toa placenta in the axis. 
ae Style filiform. Stigma dilated, hollow. Fruit usually capsular, three-celled, many-seeded (sometimes by abortion 
one-celled) ; occasionally varied, (the dissepiments generally central, proceeding from the axis of the valves, at last 
usually separate from the latter, and of different texture. (R. Brown.) Seeds roundish or angular, with or without 
the axil. (Albumen flowery, its substance radiating and deficient near the hylum. R. Brown.) Embryo enclosed 
within a peculiar membrane (Vitellus. R. Brown, Prod. Membrane of the amnios, and in King’s Voyage, 21), with 
which it does not cohere. (Lindley.) Aromatic plants found in the tropics. Herbaceous with knotted rhizomes. 
Stems formed of the sheathing concentric petioles of the leaves. Leaves simple sheathing, with a single midrib and 
regular angular veins. Inflorescence a dense spike or a panicle. Flowers beset with spathaceous bracts. i 
The plants belonging to this order are characterized by the production of a volatile oil, residing in the fruit or 
roots; hence their aromatic virtues. The roots contain starch, and sometimes colouring matter. 
ZINGIBER OFFICINALE. - 
ROSCOE. 
GINGER PLANT. 
Amomum ZincIBER.—Linneus. 
Sex. Syst.—Monandria, Monogynia. | 
Gen. Cuar.—Corolla with the outer limb three-parted, inner one-lipped. Filaments lengthened, beyond the 
anther into a simple, incurved beak. Capsule three-celled, three-valved. Seeds numerous, with axils. Rhizomata 
tuberous, articulated, creeping. Stems annual, enclosed in the sheaths of distichous leaves. Leaves membranous. 
Spikes cone-shaped, radical or rarely terminal, solitary, consisting of one-flowered imbricated bracts. (Blume, 
Lindley.) | 
Srecir. Coar.—Rhizoma tuberous, biennial. Stems erect, and oblique, invested by the smooth sheaths of the 
leaves; generally three or four feet high, and annual. Leaves subsessile on their long sheaths, bifarious, linear lance- 
olate, very smooth above, and nearly so underneath; sheaths smooth, crowned with a bifid ligula. Scapes radical, 
solitary, a little removed from the stems, from six to twelve inches high, enveloped in a few obtuse sheaths, the upper- 
most of which sometimes end in tolerably long leaves. Spikes oblong, the size of a man’s thumb. Exterior bracts 
eo - imbricated, one-flowered, obovate, smooth, membranous at the edge, faintly striated lengthwise ; interior enveloping 
