III.] A MAR YLLIDA CE^. 327 



The seeds of many Scitamineae are aromatic and often 

 very pungent, as Cardamoms, the product of an Indian 

 species of Elettaria {E. Carda?no??mm)^ and grains of Para- 

 dise, afforded by a West African Atnomiun. The stalks and 

 leaves of some Phryniums, Marantas, and allied genera, 

 split up into narrow strips, make excellent matting, and 

 from the leaves of one or two species of Mtisa, especially 

 AT. textilis, a very tenacious fibre is obtained in the Philip- 

 pines, known as Manila Hemp. 



A fragment of a leaf of Banana is well adapted for 

 exhibiting spiral vessels under the microscope. There are 

 often a number of fibres to each coil. 



no. Natural Order, Amaryllidacece. — The Amaryllis 

 Family. 



Herbs, with a six-leaved petaloid perianth, six stamens, 

 and inferior three-celled ovary. 



Type — Crimmi asiaticum. 



A large, bulbous herb, common in gardens, with long, 

 smooth, radical leaves, and large umbels of regular, white 

 flowers. 



In this species the bulb is often prolonged above the 

 surface of the ground so as to resemble a short trunk. In 



