156. ZINGIBERACEM. [2. Curcuma. 



recUnate often with 2 long spurs, and the connective behind with a 

 minute ridge. Stigma capitate, with a slightly 2-lobed gibbosity 

 above and a transversely oblong stigmatic surface below the gibbosity. 

 Capsule globose, membranous, finally 3-valved. Seeds ovoid or 

 oblong, usually arilled. 



The subterranean parts of tlie plant normally consist of a short, more or less 

 conical stock (" bulb "), which forms the base of the year's shoot and the apex 

 marked with the rings of the decayed leaf-sheaths in its second year (Fig. 8 of the 

 Zingiberacece in the Nut. Pflunz. Fam. erroneously shows the " bulb " lying on its 

 side !). From the bulb proceeds a branched or unbranched short or elongate 

 rhizome or rhizomes (" rhizome " of my descriptions, " sessile " or " palmate 

 tubers " of the F.B.I.) which bear further bulbs, or such rhizomes may be apparently 

 absent, the whole of the short lateral rhizome at once assuming the form of the 

 new bulb and giving rise to the new shoot. From the middle and lower parts of 

 the bulb issue numerous roots and long fleshy fibres which bear at their ends 

 turbinate fleshy tubers (" stipitate tubers " of F.B.I. , " tubers " of my descrip- 

 tions, dtt or daka of the Kols) ; these do not give rise to new plants and are merely 

 stores of nutriment. Whereas the rhizomes and their special modifications, the 

 bulbs, are often very aromatic and deeply coloured, the tubers are usually white or 

 watery, very slightly or not aromatic, and often yield a form of starch or arrowroot. 



I. Flower-spikes lateral to the leafy tuft or distinct and usually 



developed before the leaves appear. (In 2 and 3 vernal 

 spikes are lateral, and sestival spikes central) : — 



A. Rhizomes small or the new bulb developing close to 



the side of the old one. FIs. far exserted. Coma red 

 or pink : — 



1. Ovary villous or hirsute. Midrib of leaf green : — 

 Leaves narrowly lanceolate, gradually acuminate, 



smooth 1. anffustifolia. 



Leaves elliptic, suddenly caudate, plicate. . . 2,. sulcata. 



2. Ovary glabrous. Leaves broadly lanceolate with 



petiole and midrib deep red . . . .3. rubescens. 



B. Rhizome well-developed and branched. Leaves green 



sub-plicate. Flowers not exserted :— 

 Leaves glabrous. Petals ovate acuminate . . .4. leucorhiza. 



Leaves pubescent beneath. Petals oblong obtuse. . 5. aromatica. 



C. Rhizome well-developed. Leaves with a deep purple 



cloud down their centre. FIs. rather shorter than their 



bracts : — 

 Rhizomes yellow or straw-coloured within . . .6. zedoaria. 



Rhizomes bluish-grey within . . . . .7. ccesia. 



II. Flower-spikes always rising from the centre of the leaf- 



tuft. Coma usually pale pink, white or yellow and its 

 bracts few (see also 2 and 3 above) :— 



Rhizome pale yellow. Coma usually pale pink. Calyx 

 puberulous, ovary villous . . . . . .8. amada. 



Rhizome orange-yellow. Coma often colourless and proper 

 bracts often barren. Calyx with few fine hairs. Ovary 

 hairy at the tip only ....... 9. longa. 



Rhizome poorly developed. All bracts a deep orange- 

 yellow ......... 10 reclinata. 



1. C. angustifolia, Roxb. Paro, A'. ; Tikari, Tikur, H. 



Leaves appearing after the flowers or very young at the time of 

 flowering, arising laterally from base of the rootstoek and stem 

 hardly any composed of the convolute leaf-sheaths. Leaves few, 

 narrowly lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate 1-3 ft. long (including 

 sheath and petiole) by 2 -5-4 -5" wide, gradually acuminate to a very 

 fine point. Petiole with sheath 0-12". Plant in flower about 12" 

 only from the rhizome, peduncle lateral clothed with puberulous, 

 often coloured, leaf-sheaths. Spike 3-5" with the lower flower-bracts 



1131 



