Alpinia monandria monogynia. 71 



most height, which varies from six to nine feet; four or five tendrils 

 are now seen to spring from its stem near ihe root, and afterwards 

 the fruit is produced, which is gathered tl.e following November; 

 and requires no other preparation, than drvmg in the sun. The fruit 

 is anually collected in this way, until the seventh year, when it is usu- 

 al to cut it down, and from the trmrk other sprouts arise, in the course 

 of the next monsoon ; which grow, flourish, and are cultivated as be- 

 fore. The husk with the seed I have called the fruit, as it corre- 

 sponds with the native name. The seeds are termed the rice, and 

 the tendrils the threads of the plant. 



" I do not hear of any varieties in the species, and now enclose 

 you a specimen of some just given to me by the person who farms 

 the collection, and accounted of an interior growth. It may n©t be 

 unnecessary to mention, that this commodity yields to Govemment 

 from 25, to 30,000 rupees per annum. The inhabitants use it as a ge- 

 neral condiment to their food, and it is likewise held in sacred estmia- 

 tion for the purposes of sacrifice. It is constantly chewed with betle, 

 and some medicinal properties are ascribed to it when used in decoc- 

 tion for complaints of the bowels. I am assured, by all, that the seeds 

 of the Cardomum will never produce plants, and that it is only to be 

 propagated as already stated, or by cuttings." 



10. A.punicea. R. 



Leaves lanceolate. Spikes radical, compact, imbricated. Lip en- 

 tire, sub-parabolic ; base spurless. 



A stately species, a native of Sumatra, from thence sent by the 

 late Dr.C. Campbell, to the Botanic Garden near Calcutta, where it 

 blossoms in March and April. 



Roots hard, and bifarious- Suckers numerous, running far under 

 the surface of the earth. — Stems numerous, erect, or oblique, smooth, 

 swelled near the base ; general height about six or seven feet, and as 

 thick as a slender Avalking cane. — Leaves sub-bifarious, short-petio- 

 ied on their sheaths, lanceolate, rounded at the base, both sides 

 smooth ; from six to twenty inches long, by from three to six broad, — 



h 



