267 



UAKANTACE/E. 

 p 



Agardh describes .the albumen of Carina as a fungous elastic substance, 

 formed of densely compact hyaline granules, white internally, gradually pass- 

 ing through yellow and brown into black, and more analogous to an internal 

 membrane than to albumen, because it undergoes little change during germina- 

 tion. But the albumen is better understood now than in 1823. See Introduc- 

 tion, and Outline, of the First Principles of Botany, par. 494, &c. 



Geography. The greater part are found in tropical America and Africa ; 

 several are natives of India ; some are known in a wild state beyond the 

 tropics. 



Properties. While the ginger tribe (Scitaminese) are valued for their 

 aromatic heating principle, the arrow-root tribe (Marantacese) is esteemed on 

 account of the frecula, which abounds in the rhizoma and root of both tribes, 

 being destitute of that principle : on this account it is collected as a delicate ar- 

 ticle of food, both from Maranta arundinacea, Allouya, and nobilis in the West 

 Indies, and also from Maranta ramosissima in the East. The fleshy cormus of 

 some Carinas is reported to be eaten in Peru. A tough fibre is obtained from 

 Phrynium dichotomum ; and the leaves of the South American Calatheas are 

 worked into baskets, whence their name. The juice of Maranta arundinacea 

 is said to be efficacious in poisoned wounds Jlgdh. 



Examples. Canna, Maranta, Calathea, Phrynium. 



CCXLIIT. MUSACE.E. The Banana Tribe. 



Mus;e, Juss. Gen. (1739).— Musaceje, Agardh Aph. 180. (1823); Ach. Rich. Nouv. 

 Elem.ed.4. 436. (1S28.) 



Diagnosis. Hexapetaloideous sub-hexandrous spathaceous monocotyle- 

 dons, with an inferior ovarium, and leaves with veins diverging from the mid- 

 rib to the margin. 



Anomalies. Heliconia has only 1 ovulum in each cell. The lamina of 

 the leaf occasionally disappears in Strelitzia. 



Essential Character. Flowers spathaceous. Perianthium 6-parted, superior, petaloid, 

 in 2 distinct rows, more or less irregular. Stamens 6, inserted upon the middle of the divi- 

 sions, some often becoming abortive ; anthers linear, turned inwards, 2-celled, often having a 

 membranous petaloid crest. Ovarium inferior, 3-celled, many-seeded, rarely 3-seeded ; style 

 simple ; stigma usually 3-lobed. Fruit either a 3-celled capsule with a loculicidal dehiscence, 

 or succulent and indehiscent. Seeds sometimes surrounded by hairs, with an integument 

 which is usually crustaceous ; embryo in the axis of mealy albumen. — Stemless or nearly 

 stemless plants. Leaves sheathing at the base, and forming a kind of spurious stem; often 



