CAyXACE.K nYDROCIIAIilDE.E. 209 



jrnsnn ohscrvos, "The true arrowroot i)lant (^[. arundinarea) was introduced 

 several years ago by Mr. (). Kiley, and is beKinnins to be largely cultivated. Tiie 

 arrowroot made is not infiu-ior to any imported, while it is sold at half the price at a 

 good profit. A gentleman at Tavoj- lias sold a considerable quantity for exportation 

 this year, and has orders for more than a thousand pounds of the ne.xt crop." 



The name 'arrowroot,' which of coursi; refers to the specific term ' arundinacm,^ 

 ■was originally apjdied to the ])lant from a belief in its efficacy as an antidote to the 

 wounds made by arrows, poisoned with the juice of the Manchbied. 



Canna, LinnceuH. 



Outer perianth of .3 short stiff persistent segments. Inner perianth petal-like, 

 united at the base in a tube with the stamens, and deciduous with them ; the limb 

 of 3 nearly equal segments. Staminal whurl consisting of 4 petal-like segments, 

 3 barren (often celled inner corolla), the fourth bearing a 1-celled anther on one side. 

 Ovary 3-cclled, with several ovules. Style flattened, with a terminal stigma. 

 Capsule muricate, 3-valved. Herbs with erect stems. Flowers on a terminal in- 

 terrupted simple or branched spike. 



C. IXDICA, L. (ir.). 



Bud-da-tha-ra-na. 



C. GLAUCA, Ditcher. Mopoon (Maulmain). (P.). 



The seeds of several species of Canna can be used as a substitute for coffee, and 

 some yield a blue dye. The plant is much cultivated by the Burmese, who use its 

 seeds for their rosaries. Its addiction to marshy localities was alluded to by (Ivid, 



" Quam riatanus rivo gaudet, quam Populus unda 

 Et quam limosa Canna ])alustris hurao, 

 Tam Venus otia amat." — Eemedium Amoris, 141. 



The Cannacem are by some united with the Zinziheraeem which last, however, differ 

 in their 2-cellcd anther and the presence of aromatic principles, which the former want. 



**** Albumen none. Emhryo distinct. 



HYDRALES. 



Flowers usually diclinous, regular. Perianth 6-partite. Three outer segments 



herbaceous, 3 inner petaloid or none. Stamens 3 or more, epigynous, or inserted 



on the base of the perianth-segments. Ortiry 1, 3, or 6-ceUed. Fruit, a ben-y. 



Embryo distinct. Exalbuminous. Aquatic herbs. 



Order HTDROCHAEIDE,E. 



Flowers usually diclinous, inclosed in a membranous spathe. Perianth 6-merous, 

 2-seriate {calyx and corolla). Fruit a berry. Leaves usually radical. A(juatic plants. 



STJJATIOTIJJIE.E. 

 Stemless, scapigerous. Ovary many-celled. Sliymas 6. 



Enhalus, Z. C. Rich. 



E. AcoiioiDEs, Steud. Shallows round the Nicobars, especially opposite 



the debouchures of rivers. 



This ]dant, observes Xurz, forms submarine meadows, and jn'ows to 4 feet in 

 length. On the coral-reefs of Katchall a small form occurs with leaves never more 

 than 6 inches long. 



BooTTiA, Jligel. 

 B. COUBATA, Wall. (II.). 



VALI.ISXKRIK.'E. 

 Stemless, scapigerous. Ovary \-celled. Stigmas 3. Leaves all radicle, linear. 

 VOL. n. 14 



