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They are, however, principally valued for the sake of the aromatic stimulating 

 properties of the roots or rhizoma, such as are found in Ginger (Zingiber offi- 

 cinalis), Galangale (Alpinfa racemosa and Galanga), Zedoary (Curcuma 

 Zedoaria and Zerumbet), and many other species of the latter genus. The 

 warm and pungent roots of the greater and lesser Galangale are not only 

 used by the Indian doctors in cases of dyspepsia, but are also considered use- 

 ful in coughs, given in infusion. Ainslie, 1. 141. The seeds of many partake 

 of the properties of the root. Cardamoms are the seeds of several plants of 

 this order. On the eastern frontiers of Bengal the fruit of Amomum aroma- 

 ticum is used ; the lesser Cardamom of Malabar is the Elettaria Cardamo- 

 mum ; another sort is the produce of Amomum maximum ; and the greater 

 Cardamoms are yielded by the Amomum Granum Paradisi. Others are 

 known for their dyeing properties, such as Turmeric. This substance, obtained 

 from Curcuma longa, is cordial and stomachic ; it is also considered by the 

 native practitioners of India an excellent application in powder for cleaning 

 fold ulcers. Ibid. 1. 455. The fruit of Globba uviformis is said to be eatable. 

 Generally, in consequence of the presence of the aromatic oil that is so preva- 

 lent in the order, the roots or rhizomas, although abounding in freeula, are not 

 tit for the preparation of arrow-root ; but an excellent kind is prepared in 

 Travaneore, in the East Indies, from Curcuma angustifolia. Ibid. 1. 19. 

 Examples. Amomum, Zingiber, Alpinia, Hellenia, Kaempferia. 



CCXLII. MxVRANTACE/E. The Arrow-Root Tribe. 



Cannje, Juss. Gen. 62. (1789) in part.— Cannes, R. Brown Prodr. 1. 307. (1810); Lindl. in 

 Bot. Reg. 932. (1825.)— Cannes, or Maraxtes, Brown in Flinders, (1814.)— Canna- 

 cejs, Agardk Apk. 181. (1823) ; Link Handb. 1. 223. (1829,) a % of Scitaminese. 



Diagnosis. Tripetaloideous monocotyledons, with a single 1 -celled anther, 

 and a petaloid filament. 



Anomalies. The ovarium of Thalia is monospermous. 



Essential Character. — Calyx superior, of 3 sepals,- short. Corolla, tubular, irregular, 

 with the segments in 2 whorls; the outer 3-parted, nearly equal ; the inner very irregular ; 

 one of the lateral segments usually coloured, and formed differently from the rest; sometimes 

 by abortion fewer than 3. Stamens 3, petaloid, distinct, of which one of the laterals and the 

 intermediate one are either barreii or abortive, and the other lateral one fertile. Filament 

 petaloid, either entire or 2-lobcd, one of the lobes bearing the anther on its edge. Anther 

 1-celled, opening longitudinally. Pollen round (papillose in Carina coccinea, smooth in 

 Calathea zehrina.) Ovarium 3-celled; ovula solitary and erect, or numerous and attached to 

 the axis of each cell ; style petaloid or swollen ; stigma either the mere denuded apex of the 

 style, or hollow, cucullate, and incurved. Fruit capsular, as in Scitaminese. Seeds round, 

 without arillus ; albumen hard, somewhat floury ; embryo straight, naked, its radicle lying 

 against the hilurn. — Herbaceous tropical plants, destitute of aroma. Rhizoma creeping, 

 abounding in a nutritive fa^cula. Stem often branching. Leaves, inflorescence, and flowers, 

 as in Scitaminese. 



Affinities. Under Scitaminea?, the relations of that order and the present 

 to other monocotyledonous groups has been noticed. In this place the dis- 

 tinction between the two orders has to be explained. Mr. Brown was the 

 first to propose the separation of them, in which he has not been followed 

 generally ; a circumstance which has possibly arisen from a belief that Ma- 

 rantaceae differed from Scitamineas only in the absence of aroma and vitellus, 

 and in the imperfection of their anther. But, as I have formerly stated in the 

 Botanical Register, folio 932, the distinction of the two orders depends upon a 



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