2. Curcuma.] 156. ZINGIBERACEM. 



with a white or hyaline border, surface sub-plicate with the 30-40 

 raised nerves, persistently puberulous beneath, young softly pubes- 

 cent. Petiole 6-10" above the sheath. Flowering stems distinct 

 with a stem or peduncle 4-7" and a spike 6-9" long by 3-5" diam. at 

 the coma. Outer bracts sheathing soft with a minute pubescence, 

 flowering green or slightly tinged pink, 2-2-5" with very rounded, 

 almost truncate tip, those of the coma pale magenta with free portion 

 3" long. Flowers 2" reaching about level with the mouth of their 

 bracts, several to each bract and with proper membranous narrow- 

 obovate conduplicate bracts 1 • 25" long. Ovary and calyx hairy. 

 Corolla white, upper lobe pubescent truncate emarginate with a short 

 horn or cusp from the sinus. 



Mountains of Singbhiuii and Mayurbhanj ! Parasnath, Kurz (but the specimen 

 is doubtful). My description is "from specimens removed from the forest and 

 firowii in the garden so as to obtain fully developed leaves. Fl. Maj-June. 

 Leaves fully developed in September. 



Rhizomes 1 -5" diam., horizontal, branched, with aromatic ginger smell, dirty 

 white or yellowish inside, lateral tubers sessile. Spike flowering nearly to the top. 

 Calyx -5", scarcely 3-lobed and lobes shallowly emarginate, lateral corolla -lobes 

 as long as staminal lip, obtuse. Lateral staminodes also as long, pale yellow 

 oblong slightly broader upwards and with ends incurved. Lip yellow scarcely 

 3-lobed. Column of anther flat pubescent, anther pubescent, long-spurred. 



ArrowTOOt is said to be derived from the plant described, but from C. Zedoaria, 

 Roxburgh only speaks of a perfume. Although our plant appears to be the one 

 described as aromatica by Salisburi/, I am very doubtful whether it is Roxburqh's 

 Zedoaria which is quoted in the F.B.I, as a synonym. Roxburgh says in one place 

 that the tubers of Zedoaria are a pretty deep yellow, and in another place a pale 

 yellow. He also refers to Zedoaria as being a particularly ornamental species, 

 but our plant has too pale a coma for such a description to be applicable. He, 

 moreover, although he described from the living specimen does not refer to the 

 very raised nervation of the leaves, and, especially, he states in his diagnosis* 

 that they are sessile on their sheaths. Lastly neither he nor the F.B.I, refers to 

 the pubescence of the flowers. 



6. C. zedoaria, i?o5foe (non -/?o.t6.). S^n. C. zerumbet, J?o.t6. ; Kachura, 

 //., Beng. 

 Whole height 3-4 ft., leaves 1-2 ft., oblong acuminate and narrowed 

 to the very long petiole, glabrous, clouded down the middle with 

 purple. Spikes appearing before the leaves, 6" by 3". Flowering 

 bracts 1 • 5", often tinged with red, bracts of the coma many, spreading, 

 bright red. Flowers pale yellow rather shorter than the bracts. 

 Corolla lobes pale, lateral oblong, dorsal rather longer with a subulate 

 tip. Lateral staminodes obovate. Lip -5" broad, orbicular, deep- 

 yellow, recurved, emarginate. Ovary hairy. Capsule ovoid-tri- 

 gonous, dehiscing irregularly. Seeds oblong, aril lanceolate, white, 

 cut into slender unequal fleshy segments (Roxb.). 



Open grassy places in the Tarai and Duars, probably Purneah and Santal Parg. 

 Manbhum, Camp. ! Fl. April. Leafy shoot in June. 



Bulb large ovoid. Rhizome well developed, cylindrical, pale yellow or straw- 

 coloiued inside. Tubers many, pearl-coloured within. 



The rhizome possesses an agreeable, aromatic, camphoraceous smell. It has 

 stimulant and carminative properties and is used in flatulence and dyspepsia, and 

 also for clearing the throat (expectorant). The dry root powdered and mixed 

 with the powdered wood of Ccesalpinia Sappan makes the red powder called abir 

 which is thrown over the person during the Holi festival. Nadkarrti. 



* Though later on he says the leaves are petioled he does not mention the long 

 petioles which are characteristic. 



1134 



