Phrynhim. monandria mokogynia. 5 



glossy, interior membranaceous. — Perisperfn conform to the seed, 

 and as in P. capitatum, &c. a brown substance runs up from the base, 

 into the arch of the embryo. — Embryo simple, hooked, with the con- 

 vexity upwards. 



Obs. It is ahnost needless to observe that this plant has no relation 

 to that which furnishes tlie Cardaniom of Malabar, viz. my Alpinia 

 Cardamomum. 



3. P. spicatum. R. 



Stemless. Leaves radical, bifarious, oblong. Spikes radical, 



shorter than the petioles, subcylindric, bifariously imbricated. 



Plants of this small species, were sent by Mr. Felix Carey from 

 Pegu, to the Botanic Garden at Calcutta, where they blossom in 

 April and May. 



Root perennial, flexuose, creeping horizontally deep in the earth, 

 thick as a ratan ;j^'5res numerous from the main body, and spread in 

 all directions. — Stem none, the sheathing petioles unite from 6 to 12 

 inches in extent, and resemble one, as in the Curcumas. — Leaves in 

 little radical tufts, of three or four each, sub-bifarious, petioled, linear- 

 oblong ; base broad and rounded ; apex tapering, and sharp, both sur- 

 faces quite smooth; position nearly horizontal; length 6-10 inch- 

 es, by 2-3 broad. — Petioles, the most exterior of the tuft sheathing, 

 with their upper part round and smooth, those in the centre, (one or 

 two) have no sheath, and are from apex to base round and smooth* 

 general length of the whole from 6 to 12 inches, which is nearly tlie 

 height of the whole plant, the position of the leaves being nearly 

 horizontal. — Sjjikes solitary in the centre of the petioles, or lateral 

 from their base, short-peduncled, sub-cylindric, acute, apex elevated 

 but little above the soil, imbricated on opposite sides, w ith 4-8, al- 

 ternate, bifarious bractes, or sheaths ; each embraces a small spike- 

 let of four or five pairs of sessile, small, nearly white flowers, on - 

 the back, or interior side of the spikelet, which expand in successi- 

 on, beginning with the lower pair. Rachis flexuose, smooth. — BraC'' 

 tes ; exterior, or common, one at each joint of the spike, sub-cylin- 

 dric, sheathing, smooth, and rather obtuse J interior j or proper one 



