Amomiim. monandria monogynia. 45 



subulate, and much longer than the tube of the corol. Cowl; 

 exterior border of three nearly equal segments, the upper 

 one ends subulately. Lip oblong, often emarginate; mar- 

 gins a little curled, deeper yellow than the exterior segments. 

 Filament flat. Anther two-lobed and crowned with an en- 

 tire crest. Germ three-celled, with many ovula in each, at- 

 tached to the thick partitions, a little removed from the axis. 

 Style, stigma and nectarial scales of Konig as in the genus. 



7. A. aromaticum. R. 



Beng. Morung Elachi. 



A native of the vallies on the eastern frontier of Bengal, 

 where, as well as in the Botanic garden near Calcutta, it 

 blossoms during the hot season, before the periodical rains 

 begin ; and the fruit ripens in September; the capsules are 

 then carefully gathered by the natives, and sold to the drug- 

 gists, who dispose of them for medicinal and other purpose, 

 where such spices are wanted, under the name of Morung 

 e/achi, or cardamon ; though the seed vessel of this species 

 differs in form from all hitherto described sorts of this drug; 

 however the seeds are similar in their shape and spicy fla- 

 vour. 



Root tuberous, running for a small extent at a small depth 

 under the surface of the soil, &c. as in the order. Stems in 

 tufts, erect, or more or less oblique according to their situation 

 in the tuft, those in the centre being nearly erect, while on 

 the outside they bend out considerably, all are covered with 

 the sheaths of the leaves, general height two to three feet ; 

 duration from one to two years. Leaves bifarious, lanceolar, 

 acuminate, smooth ; from ten to twelve inches long, and from 

 two to four broad. Spikes radical, imbricated, at first cla- 

 vate, afterwards becoming roundish as the fruit advances. 

 Scape from one to three inches long, hid under the surface 

 of the earth, and embraced by numerous imbricated, sheath- 

 ing scales. Floivers of a midding size, pale yellow. Bractes ; 

 exterior one-flowered, oblong, concave, smooth ; interior, 



