y2. ZINGIBER ACE JS. 

 6. Costus, L. 



1. C- speciosus, Smith. 



A handsome herb 2-6 ft. high, the stem usually spiral so 

 that the distichous leaf arrangement is no longer apparent. 

 L. oblong 6"- 12" thinly silky beneath. Fls. very large pure- 

 white in terminal dense spikes 2-4" long with scarlet ovate 

 bracts 1-1|" long. 



Generally distributed, esp. in moist localities among undergrowth. 

 Fls. July. Sept. 



Calyx 1". Cor.-lobes oblong 1-1^". Lip sub-orbicular 2-3'' with tho 

 margins incurved and meeting. Connective oblong petaloid. 



The rootstock is eaten. 



7. Alpinia, L. 

 1. A. Galanga, Sw. 



This is recorded in Wood's list without remark. It might possibly 

 occnr in the swampy tracts along the Ganges, or it might be only culti- 

 vated. The plant is common in the swamps of the Terai and has a leafy 

 stem 6-7 ft. high terminated by compound pubescent panicles of flowers 

 with a pretty obovate clawed emarginate white lip £'' long veined with 

 red or lilac. The fruit is globose and orange-red. It flowers May-June. 

 The commonest of the Alpinias is, perhaps, ( A. Allughas, Rose, wi** 

 cuneate pink 2-fid lip and black fruits. 



Fam. 93. MARANTACEjE. 



Habit much the same as in Zingiberace®, but petiole of 

 leaf well developed above the sheath. Calyx of free sepals 

 or sepals only slightly coherent. Outer staminal-whorl with 

 generally two of its members converted into petaloid siami- 

 nodes. Only one cell of the posterior anther of the inner 

 whorl fertile, the other half-anther barren, usually petaloid. 

 Lateral-staminodes of inner whorl not forming a lip, more or 

 less petaloid or coriaceous, one enclosing the style and 

 stigma. Ovary 3-1-celled. Cells 1-ovuled. 



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