Amomales.] 



MARANTACE^. 



169 



the perianth of Canna only the most extei-nal part within the calyx can properly 

 be called corolla ; the remainder of the segments being attempts to produce barren 

 petaloid stamens analogous to what is called the mner limb of the corolla in Gingerworts ; 

 and the characters upon which botanists found their specific distinctions depend upon 

 the degree to which this development of petaloid abortive stamens extends. When, for 

 mstance, they describe some as ha^'ing an inner hmb of 2 or of 3, or of 4 or of 5 seg- 

 ments, they should rather say 2, 3, 4, or 5 stamens are partially developed. 



Perhaps it will be possible to put the relative structm-e of Gingerworts and Marants 

 in a clearer light by the following diagrams, in which the triangle C, C, C represents 

 the calyx, the angles corresponding with the position of the sepals ; the triangle P, P, P 

 the corolla ; R, r, r an outer series of petaloid stamens, of which r, r are rudimentary 

 only ; and S, s, s the inner series of stamens, of which S is the fertile and fully developed 



GINGERWORTS. 



MARANTS. 



The greater part are found in tropical America and Africa ; several are natives of 

 India ; none are knoAvn m a ^\ild state beyond the tropics. 



While Gingerworts are valued for then* aromatic heating principle, the Marants are 

 esteemed on account of the fsecula, which abounds in the rliizome and root of both tribes, 

 the Gingerworts being destitute of that principle : on this account it is collected as a delicate 

 article of food, both from Mai'anta arundinacea, Alloujda, and nobilis, in the West Indies, 

 and also from Maranta ramosissima in the East. The fleshy corms of some Cannas 

 are reported to be eaten in Peru, and a sort of Arrow-root called tous les mois is ex- 

 tracted in the West Indies from some species supposed to be C. Achiras. The seeds of 

 others, called Indian shot, have been used as a substitute for Coffee, and jield a purple 

 dye. A tough fibre is obtained from Plirynium dichotomum ; and the leaves of the 

 South American Calatheas are worked into baskets, whence their name. The juice of 

 Maranta anmdinacea is said to be efficacious in poisoned wounds ; it is acrid when fresh, 

 reddening the skin, and exciting saliva when chewed. The tubers of Maranta Allouyia, 

 cooked vAth. pepper and salt, are eaten in the West Indies. Martins says that the tubers 

 of Canna aurantiaca, glauca, and others, are diuretic and diaphoretic, and are not 

 unlike Orris-root in action. 



Thalia, Linn. 



Peronia, DC. 

 Maranta, Plum. 

 Phrynium, Willd. 



GENERA. 



Phyllodes, Loureir. 

 Calathea, G. F. W. Meyer 



Goppertia, Nees. 

 Myrosma, Linn.fil. 



Canna, Linn. 

 Cannacorus, Toumef. 



Numbers. Gen. 6. Sp. 160. 

 Position. — Zingiberacese, 



LiliacecB. 



Marantace^.- 



OrchidacecB. 



