44 monandria monogynia. Amomum. 



but oval and ovate are most common. Internments besides 

 the aril, or its dried remains, a single, very hard, dark colour- 

 ed, brittle one. Perisperm conform to the seed, white and 

 cartilaginous. ViteUus lodged in the upper part of the peris- 

 perm, of a roundish shape, hard, sub-hyaline. Embryo sub- 

 cylindric, its apex immersed in die vitellus, and its base at the 

 umbilicus. 



Obs. The seeds of this plant are insipid, whereas those of 

 Amomum ma.iimum,\\hkh is nearly allied to it, are aromatic, 

 and pass for a sort of Cardamom. 



6. A. subuhttiim. R. 



Leave* lanceolar, smooth. Spikes ovate, echinated with 

 the long subulate points of the bractes, calyx, and upper 

 segment of the exterior border of the enrol. Lip oblong-. 



A native of the Lower range of mountains which skirt the 

 plain- of Bengal on the north, where it grows on the borders 

 of the nils of water between the hills. Flowering time in the 

 Botanic garden near Calcutta, March and April; and the 

 -i ( ds ripen during the rams. 



Root tuberous, creeping ;it a small distance under the sur- 

 face of the soil, 8cc ;isin the genus, and amply furnished with 

 numerous, strong fibres. Stems erect, about three or four feet 

 high* and about as thick as the little ringer. Leaves alter- 

 nate, hilarious, sessile on their sheaths, narrow -lanceolar, fine- 

 ly acuminate, deep green, and smooth on both sides; from 

 twelve to fifteen inches Long, by three or four broad. Sheaths 

 smooth, margins coloured and rising above the mouth into an 

 emarginate ligula* Spikes radical, compact, a little elevat- 

 ed above the soil, obovate, size of a goose-egg, echinate with 

 the long, subulate, pale yellow points of the bractes, inner 

 calyx and upper segments of the exterior border of the corol. 

 Bractes numerous, the exterior imbricated upward, obovate, 

 dark-red, smooth, long-subulate, pointed, one-flowered ; the 

 inner, or inferior calyx, spathiform, opening on one side, 

 flowers large, yellow. Calyx superior, three-cleft, segments 



