1. Muia.] 91. MUSACEuE. 



5 fertile, posterior absent or reduced to a staminode. Ovary 

 3-celled inferior with many anatropous ovules. Seeds with 

 hard testa, mealy perisperm and straight embryo. 



1. M. sapient um, L. (Var. svlvestris, Prain) Kadal, 

 Kadela, K ; Kasra, S. ; Kela, H. ; The Wild Plantain. 



A tree-like herb 8-12 ft. high, the bracts deep red or 

 purple arranged on an elongate drooping spike, the terminal 

 forming a close club. Fls. many in the axil of each bract, 

 fern. fls. occupying many of the lowest bracts. Odd petal 

 shorter than rest of perianth. Fr. with a coriaceous rind 

 and numerous black seeds. 



Deep valleys in Singbhum, frequent. Northern slopes of Parasnatn 

 (Hazaribagh). Valleys in the northern Rajmehal hills. 



Prain distinguishes the typical M. sapientura as being the cultivated 

 variety, of which the frnit is edible uncooked (Banana). Var. paradisiaca, 

 F.B.I. is the Plantain with firm pulp, only edible ^when cooked. 



For a summary of information relating to Bananas and Plantains, see 

 Kew Bulletin for August 1894. 



2. M- ornata> Boxb. Syn. M. rosacea, F.B.I, 



A stout herb 3-5 ft. high, the bracts bright rose-coloured 

 or pink in a perfectly erect spike. Fls. 3-4 only in the 

 bract, F. fls. occupying only the 4 lowest bracts. 



A beautiful plant found growing in mud along sti earns in the wildest 

 Singbhum valleys, fe'l. May-July. 



Stoloniferous. Leaf 4f by 1 ft. Petiole 1-2 ft. The whole inflorescence 

 is about 15-18" from the base of the linear rose-coloured spathe, the tip 

 only of whichisfoliaceous. Flowering part of spike "-4" only. Rachis 

 glabrous. Bracts ovate-oblong 3''. Perianth 1£" greenish, yellow upwards 

 5-toothed. Odd petal as long colourless. Fruits 2-4 only in a cluster, 

 trapezoidal in section. 



Fam. 02. ZIXGIBERACE E, 



Perennial herbs with an elongate or bulbous rhizome, and 

 fleshy roots, with or without an aerial stem, which is some- 

 times composed of leaf -sheaths as in Musaceae. Leaves large 

 penni- veined distichous with long sheaths and short petioles 

 and furnished with an oohrea or ligule. Fls. irregular 



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