Curanna.'] ScitamiliecS. 24 1 



1. C aromatica, Salisb. Parad. Land. t. 96 (1808). Dadakaha, 

 Walkaha, 6^. 



C. Zedoaria, Roxb. (non Rose), Moon, Cat. 2. Thw. Enum. 316. 

 C. P. 3705. 



Fl. B. Ind. vi. 210. Wight, Ic. t. 2005. Bot. Mag. t. 1546 (C Z^-^^^ar/a) 



Rootstock large, of palmately branched sessile, annulate, 

 biennial tubers, yellow and aromatic within ; 1. 18-24 in-, 

 oblong, caudate-acuminate, base deltoid, green, often varie- 

 gated above, pubescent beneath, petiole 2-3 ft., green; flg. 

 stem appearing before or with the leafing stem, as thick as the 

 fore finger, sheathed; spike 6-12 in., about i in. diam. ; fl. 

 bracts i|-2 in., recurved, ovate, cymbiform, tip rounded, pale 

 green, connate below forming pouches for the fl. ; empty 

 bracts 2-3 in., red or pink ; fl. shorter than the bracts ; cor.- 

 tube I in., upper-half funnel-shaped, lateral segm. oblong, 

 upper longer, ovate, concave, over-arching the anth. ; stami- 

 nodes obtuse, as long as the cor.-segm.; lip deflexed, orbicular, 

 obscurely 3-lobed. 



Damp shady places in low country; rather rare. Pusselawe; Gam- 

 pola; but often cultivated. Fl. Jan., Feb.; cor. pinkish-white, lip yellow, 

 fragrant. 



Throughout India. 



Rootstock used medicinally. 



2. *C. Zedoaria, Roscoe, Scit. PI. t. 109 (1828). Harankaha, S. 



C. Zeriiitibet, Roxb.; Thw. Enum. 316. C. lo?!ga, Moon, Cat. 2 (non L.). 

 C. P. 3373- 



Fl. B. Ind. vi. 210. Roxb, PI. Corom. t. loi (C Zerumbei). Rheede, 

 Hort. Mai. xi. t. 7. 



Rootstock very stout, with many sessile, cylindric, oblong, 

 and palmately branched annulate tubers, pale yellow or white 

 inside, with a camphoraceous smell and bitterish spicy taste, 

 also bearing long fleshy fibres that terminate in smaller 

 oblong less fragrant tubers ; 1. 4-6, sub-bifarious, 1-2 ft. long, 

 oblong-lanceolate, finely acuminate, glabrous on both surfaces, 

 clouded with purple down the middle, petiole long, narrowly 

 winged; flg. stem 8-10 in., appearing before the 1., stout, 

 clothed with obtuse sheaths ; spike 4-5 in., 3 in. diam., fl. 

 bracts \\ in., ovate, recurved, cymbiform, green tinged with 

 red, empty bracts 2 in. long, crimson or purple ; cal. obtusely 

 toothed ; cor.-tube twice as long, funnel - shaped, lateral 

 segm. oblong, upper longer, vaulted, overarching the anth. ; 

 staminodes short, broadly oblong; lip \ in. broad, orbicular, 

 deflexed, obscurely 3-lobed; fil. short; fr. ovoid, trigonous, thin, 

 smooth, bursting irregularly ; seeds oblong, aril lacerate, 

 white. 



* Zedoar is the Arabic jadwar, and zerumbet the Persian zarambad. 

 PART IV. R 



