MUSACEAX ) 158 
Inflorescence terminal erect, dichotomously branched, the spathes ovate to 
ovate-lanceolate, about 1 cm long, many-flowered, 1 or 2 opening at a 
time, 5 to 6 cm in diameter, the perianth-lobes spreading narrowly- 
elliptic, narrowed at both ends, yellowish outside, inside reddish-yellow 
with darker spots. (Fl. Filip. pl. 376, Pardanthus chinensis.) 
Cultivated in larger towns in the Philippines, sometimes spontaneous, 
fl. all the year. A native of China now introduced in many warm and 
tropical countries. 
2. ELEUTHERINE Herbert 
Herbs from purple, tunicated bulbs, the outer layers membranaceous. 
Leaves few, petioled, lanceolate, 6- or 7-nerved, plicate. Scapes as long as 
the leaves, flowering at the apex, the long-peduncled spathes fascicled, 
subtended by a lanceolate, leaf-like bract. Spathes green, oblong, up to 
12 on each scape, much shorter than their peduncles, many-flowered, one 
flower opening at a time, the inner valves many, membranaceous, im- 
bricate. Perianth regular, rotate, white, the tube not produced above the 
ovary; segments 6, obovate, the interior ones slightly smaller. Stamens 3, 
shorter than the perianth-limb. Ovary clavate, 3-celled, cells many- 
ovuled. Capsule cylindric, 6-suleate, operculate, 3-valved at the apex. 
(Greek “free.’’) 
An American genus of one or two species, 1 introduced in the Phil- 
ippines. 
1. E. PALMAEFOLIA (L.) Merr. (E. plicata Herb.). e 
Bulbs about 4 cm long, ovoid-oblong, narrowed at,both ends, the outer 
layers thin, purple. Leaves lanceolate, narrowed at both ends, plicate, 
3 or 4 from each bulb, 30 to 50 cm long, 1.5 to 3 em wide. Scapes 
‘rather slender, as long as the leaves, green. Spathes 10 to 12 mm long, 
the outer two green, the inner ones very much thinner, greenish-white. 
Flowers white, about 2 cm in diameter, the lobes obovate, spreading. 
(Fl. Filip. pl. 100, Antholyza meriana.) 
Occasionally cultivated, fl. May-July, and probably in other months; 
in and about some towns in the Philippines, sometimes spontaneous. 
Introduced from tropical America at an early date. 
28. MUSACEAE (BANANA OR SAGUING FAMILY) 
Stems erect, tree-like with the leaves all at the top, or formed of the 
fleshy, convulute, closely imbricate, leaf-sheaths. Leaves very large, 
oblong, distichous or spirally arranged. Inflorescence simple or compound, 
bracteate. Flowers sessile or pedicelled, ebracteolate or with small 
bracteoles, perfect or monoecious. Petals free or connate, the corolla 
often inflated and surrounding the anthers and style. Stamens 5, free; 
staminode 1 or none. Ovary inferior, 3-celled; ovules 1 to many in each 
cell. Fruit fleshy and baccate, or a dehiscent capsule. 
Genera 6, species more than 100, in the tropics of both hemispheres, 
1 indigenous genus with a number of distinct species, and several in- 
troduced ones in the Philippines. 
Leaves spirally arranged, their sheaths closely imbricated forming a 
ESTATE NC TICINY GYNTN onan seogene agate vgcontive nr ssn onrrnensnabngi 1. Musa 
Leaves distichous, radiately arranged in one plane like a fan at the apex 
Sa mp iL (Sg rag t hed feel Mana: Cat = fan ROC ta eR tata ls Ad Oh. ea 2. Ravenala 
