A MOM ALES.] 



ZINGIBERACE^. 



167 



coughs, given iii infusion. A bad sort of Galangale is obtained from Alpinia pyrami- 

 data, Bl, and Allughas, with which are often mixed Alpinia nutans and Kpempferia 

 Galanga. 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 aromaticum is used. Malabar Cai'damoms are produced by Elettaria 

 Cardamomimi ; Ceylon Cardamoms, an inferior sort, by Elettai-ia major. Grains of 

 Paradise, a sort of hot acrid seed, used to give a pungent flavour to spiintuous hquors, 

 belong principally to Amomum Grana Paradisi, but Amonmm angustifolium, ma- 

 crospermum, maxinmm, and Clusii are, according to Dr. Pereu-a, also the pai*ents 

 of an inferior description of this seed. Others are kno\Mi 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 foul ulcers. The fruit of Globba mdformis is said to 

 be eatable. Generally, in consequence of the presence of the aromatic oil that is so 

 prevalent in the Order, the roots or rhizomes, although abounding in fsecula, are not 

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

 in the East Indies, from Curcmna angustifolia. 



A species of Curcuma is supposed by Von Martins to furnish the astringent Mexican 

 drug called Cascara de Pingue, which abounds in tannin. What is called Cascara de 

 Lingue is the bark of some tree. — Chem. Gaz. 1844. 263. The American Renealmias 

 are stated by Pbppig to have aromatic leaves which, when bruised, are employed in 

 pains of the hmbs. The roots of Costi are very bitter, and have had a great repvitation as 

 tonics, but they are out of use. The roots of Alpinia aromatica and Paco seroca are 

 sweetly aromatic, and are employed in Brazil as carminatives and stomachics. — Martins. 

 All the Brazihan Costi have a sub-acid mucilaginous juice, which is used in nephritic 

 diorders and gonoiThoea. — Id. According to Roxburgh the pendulous tubers of 

 Curcuma inibescens and several other species peld a very beautiful pure starch, hke 

 Arrow-root, which the natives of the countries where the plants grow prepare and eat. 

 In Travancore tliis flom* or starch forms a large part of the diet of the inhabitants. 

 Such Arrow-root, obtained from C. angustifoha, is commonly sold in the markets of 

 Benares. See Flora Medica for further mformation concerning these plants. 



Globba. Linn. 



Catimbittm, Juss. 

 Colebrookia, Don. 



Ceranthera, Horn. 



Hura, Konig. 



Spkcerocarpus , Gawl. 



Manitia, Gieseke. 

 Ceratanthera, Honiem. 

 Mantisia, Curt. 

 Zingiber, Gcertn. 



Jagera, Gieseke. 



Dietrichia, Gieseke. 



Casumunar, Colla. 



Lampujang, Rumph. 

 Curcuma, Linn. 



Zerumbet, Rumph. 



Stissera, Gieseke. 



Erndlia, Gieseke. 



GENERA.— (iHiic)^ in 

 Kaempferia, Limi. 



Soncorus, Rumph. 

 Trilophus, Lestib. 

 Roscoea, Smith. 

 Amomum, Linn. 



Cardamomumjiuva^'h. 



Marenga, Salisb. 



Alexis, Salisb. 



Hornstedtia, Retz, 



Meistera, Gieseke. 



Wurfbainia, Gieseke. 



Qreenicaya, Gieseke. 



Paludana, Gieseke. 



Etlingera, Gieseke. 

 Elettaria, Rheed. 



Matonia, Sm. 



Cardamomum, Salisb. 



Geanthus, Reinw. 



need of re-examination.) 

 j Donacodes, Blume. 

 I Diracodes, Blume. 

 Hedychium, Konig. 

 I Gandsulium, Rumph. 

 I Gamochilus, Lestib. 

 Renealmia, Linn, 

 Alpinia, Plum. 

 Gethyra, Salisb. 

 Peperidium, Lindl. 

 Alpinia, Linn. 

 Zerumbet, Jacq. 

 Costus, Pers. 

 Ethanium, Salisb. 

 Allughas, Linn. 

 Buekia, Gieseke. 

 Catimbium, Lestib. 

 Leptosolena, Presl. 

 (Gastrochilus, Wall. 



HeUenia, Willd. 



Albina, Gieseke. 



Martensia, Gieseke. 



Heritiera, Retz. 



Languas, Konig. 

 Monolophus, Wall. 

 Cenolophon, Blume. 

 Costus, Linn. 



Tsjana, Gmel. 



Planera, Gieseke. 



Banks^ia, Konig. 



Hellenia, Retz. 



Glissanthe, Salisb. 

 Jacuanga, Lestib. 

 Monocystis, Lindl. 

 KolowTatia, Presl. 

 Nyctophylax, Zippel. 

 Hitchenia, Wall. 



Numbers. Gen, 29. Sp. 247. 



Position. — Musacese. — Zingiberace.e. — Marantacese. 

 Orchidacece. 



